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Wednesday Reading Meme?
Jan. 9th, 2019 09:31 pm1. Had the following conversation with two co-workers about a weird book in the lunch room.
( Read more... )
Anyhow...I felt good after that brief discussion.
Today the sun peeked out from beneath the clouds and life for a bit, was glorious.
2. Making my way slowly through The Essex Serpent -- which is interesting. I'm guessing early 20th Century, about 1910 or thereabouts, pre-WWI, definitely post Industrial Revolution. We have cars and buses, yet women are still wearing corsets, and the marriage laws are still stifling as are the roles women are relegated to -- albeit less stifling than the 1800s.
When reading fictional historicals, I'm always a bit skeptical of the historical facts, unless the writer provides me with proof that it is accurate. It doesn't have to be -- I hand-wave a lot in fiction. As long as it makes logical sense to me, that's okay. Fiction in of itself is a story told with embellishment and fabrication. Otherwise it would be non-fiction. Also time periods are hard to know without dates. It's often best not to include them. (Sigh, which I keep doing in my own writing. Must learn not to do this. But I like to know when I am in a story.)
Anyhow, the characters are compelling and different. (Keep in mind I've been reading romance novels, urban fantasy (Which is basically the same thing), and YA fantasy (also the same thing) - so the characters tend to be inhumanely beautiful and perfect physically. The epitome of whatever it is the author considers attractive in our society. And described in luscious detail.)
( Read more... )
3. Saw an interesting book rec'd on FB, by former Junior Minister of my UU church (he's homosexual and a huge fantasy/sci-fi fan..calls himself RevWho..he writes sermons based on Doctor Who episodes, I kid you not. And has also referenced Buffy in his sermons...well back in the day. I miss him. I like sermons with pop culture fantasy references. Far more relatable, then gee my kids did this today isn't that hilarious? (Not unless you have kids or have been around them).Plus, I was raised Catholic, so I find it jarring.)
But that's off topic.
Here's the rec:
"Working through book two of “The Khorasan Archives” by Ausma Zehanat Khan. She’s writing basically a Muslim centered fantasy series centering women’s perspectives. She holds a PhD in international human rights law with a specialization in military intervention and war crimes in the Balkans. And this series touches upon all her expertise. They say she’s “somewhere between N.K. Jemisin and George R. R. Martin.” Well, she’s a way better story teller than Martin and her world is no less creative."
The Khorasan Archives - Bloodprint (Book 1) by Ausma Zehanat Khan
( Read more... )
( Read more... )
Anyhow...I felt good after that brief discussion.
Today the sun peeked out from beneath the clouds and life for a bit, was glorious.
2. Making my way slowly through The Essex Serpent -- which is interesting. I'm guessing early 20th Century, about 1910 or thereabouts, pre-WWI, definitely post Industrial Revolution. We have cars and buses, yet women are still wearing corsets, and the marriage laws are still stifling as are the roles women are relegated to -- albeit less stifling than the 1800s.
When reading fictional historicals, I'm always a bit skeptical of the historical facts, unless the writer provides me with proof that it is accurate. It doesn't have to be -- I hand-wave a lot in fiction. As long as it makes logical sense to me, that's okay. Fiction in of itself is a story told with embellishment and fabrication. Otherwise it would be non-fiction. Also time periods are hard to know without dates. It's often best not to include them. (Sigh, which I keep doing in my own writing. Must learn not to do this. But I like to know when I am in a story.)
Anyhow, the characters are compelling and different. (Keep in mind I've been reading romance novels, urban fantasy (Which is basically the same thing), and YA fantasy (also the same thing) - so the characters tend to be inhumanely beautiful and perfect physically. The epitome of whatever it is the author considers attractive in our society. And described in luscious detail.)
( Read more... )
3. Saw an interesting book rec'd on FB, by former Junior Minister of my UU church (he's homosexual and a huge fantasy/sci-fi fan..calls himself RevWho..he writes sermons based on Doctor Who episodes, I kid you not. And has also referenced Buffy in his sermons...well back in the day. I miss him. I like sermons with pop culture fantasy references. Far more relatable, then gee my kids did this today isn't that hilarious? (Not unless you have kids or have been around them).Plus, I was raised Catholic, so I find it jarring.)
But that's off topic.
Here's the rec:
"Working through book two of “The Khorasan Archives” by Ausma Zehanat Khan. She’s writing basically a Muslim centered fantasy series centering women’s perspectives. She holds a PhD in international human rights law with a specialization in military intervention and war crimes in the Balkans. And this series touches upon all her expertise. They say she’s “somewhere between N.K. Jemisin and George R. R. Martin.” Well, she’s a way better story teller than Martin and her world is no less creative."
The Khorasan Archives - Bloodprint (Book 1) by Ausma Zehanat Khan
( Read more... )