Pratchett, Primeval & the List!

“There was this about vampires : they could never look scruffy. Instead, they were... what was the word... deshabille. It meant untidy, but with bags and bags of style.” 

I think I've said before that I read in all genres, at least a little. I'm reading my first Lord Peter Wimsey right now, but I hadn't dug into Fantasy or Sci Fi in a long time, til recently.

This week I read my first Terry Pratchett. I heard 1 & 2 of Discworld are just spoofs on the high Fantasy genre, whereas he comes into his own in book 3; so I decided to skip the book I have (#2). I went to the library and picked out a stand-alone title called Monstrous Regiment. It begins with the trope of the girl who dresses as a boy to join the army, but what Pratchett does with that trope is hilarious. One reviewer compared it to Sharpe, and I think that's a good comparison (and to the Hornblower TV series). A small squad of anti-heroes, funny and quirky, but in a serious setting.

Anyway, it was fantastic, I highly recommend it. Especially if you like to read books with women protagonists. You'll find it fulfilling in a way I can't describe without spoilering the book.

On the other side, I've been watching Connie Willis' favorite show, Primeval. (Well something had to replace Psych, of which I watched every single episode.)

Watched all 5 seasons. It's about a group of London scientists who discover these anomalies through which prehistoric creatures are able to come through time. They have to contain them, so there's a dino-of-the-week element; but the real strength of the series is in its long stories. I enjoyed every one of them, through each season. Now: There are plot holes you could fly a spaceship through. There are so many absurdities I'm tempted to create a drinking game! You have to be able to disregard the logic of the thing, and just enjoy the sort of political-thriller-tude of it.

The series also does romances well. There are several, plus the one Grand Romance between Connor the geek and Abby the animal lover. Willis is right--Connor is adorkable.

"So, eight years she's been living in the past. My God! How are we going to explain Celebrity Love Island to her?"

The show gets a ZERO in terms of casting people of color (or, needless to say, people of non-heterotude). There are a lot of cast changes, so it's really inexcusable. Especially since it takes place in London! Really, really bad. But the ladies are done up well. It's always a man, plus Connor, who *stars*, so this is no Alien. But the women basically dress appropriately, shoot accurately, and are active.

Oh and then there's Lester, the bureaucrat running the operation. He gets all the good lines, I lurv him.

"You know I could have been ambassador to Moscow by now. Maybe even Cabinet Secretary. Instead I'm watching a dinosaur trash my office. Still, no regrets."

"We may stand on the brink of Armageddon, but at least we have an irritating student on our side. How reassuring!"

Not sure whether to continue in this vein or not. Maybe get back into Dr Who. Or read the SFF books I brought with me--the Nanaimo 50 List! I've got Rothfuss, Sawyer, Shinn, Wicked and that underwater book. I've only read 3 books from the list so far (I'm counting Pratchett), though Step-mommy the French horror novel, and my dad read Living Biblically. Does that count?

I've read (not counting kids' books) 24 books since moving out here, just not the "right ones" ! Meh heh heh. Ahhh books. Having a library card isn't helping (graphic novels!)
   
   

The Penultimate Edition of : Nanaimo Island Reads! (If you need some book recs, check it out)

Thanks so much to those who participated in my goofy book choice games. I know it was a bit random, but if I were to ask people their favorite books, I could get one "I hated it!" for every "It changed my life!" And then I'd feel like I was choosing between people, rather than between books.

Also, some books simply get more publicity--there was a hit movie, it won a big American award, the author was on Oprah--so more people might have read them; yet they might not be "better" books.

Which doesn't mean you shouldn't plead a case for a book in here you've read. :-) Descriptions included as usual, in case your To Be Read pile hasn't already reached the ceiling.

Click on the book descriptions to go to the Goodreads page of each book...

Leave you babbling <-- Our winner, recommended to me by various ex-coworkers: Henry finds himself periodically displaced in time, pulled to moments of emotional gravity from his life, past and future. Henry and Clare's attempts to live normal lives are threatened by a force they can neither prevent nor control, making their passionate love story intensely moving and entirely unforgettable.

Hitchcockian <-- runner up, recommended to me by two ex-coworkers: a ghost story set at Hundreds hall following the story of the Ayres family as their home and society crumble around them on post war Britain.

Most romantic in years <-- Recommended by no one, but won the Pen Faulkner award.: It is a perfect evening until a band of terrorists breaks in, taking the entire party hostage. Friendship, compassion, and the chance for great love lead the characters to forget the real danger that has been set in motion and cannot be stopped.

Wrenching, soaring <-- Lost! Recommended eons ago by My Book Enabling Friend who owns more books than me, and has read more than me, especially good literature: The story of Sydney Henderson's family, as told by grown son Lyle, is about the price they all pay for Sydney's refusal to abandon his principles.

Mythic quality <-- Was a huge hit, even before Oprah recommended it. I think Enabling Friend recommended it, but also customers, and everyone says it has a SHOCKING ENDING. I've read two other Oprah picks, they were excellent.: Chronicling five generations of this eccentric clan, "Fall On Your Knees" follows four remarkable sisters whose lives are filled with driving ambition, inescapable family bonds, and forbidden love.

Obsession! Possession! <-- Impulse buy. Supposed to be a literary vampire novel.: a centuries-long quest to find the source of that darkness and wipe it out. It is a quest for the truth about Vlad the Impaler, the medieval ruler whose barbarous reign formed the basis of the legend of Dracula

Spun like Arabian Nights <-- A hit at one point (before the movie), and recommended by a very interesting ex-coworker.: Grenouille’s quest to make the finest perfume in the world–and in the process of doing so he kills twenty-five virgin girls.

Afraid to turn the pages <-- Other runner up. My mother reads a lot of thrillers, recommended the author years ago.: Rules of Prey introduces Lucas Davenport, the badass Minneapolis cop who plays by his own rules but gets the job done when no one else can.

Knockout ending <-- Well you've all heard of this one too, I'm sure. : the story of Alice's slow but inevitable loss of memory and connection with reality, told from her perspective. ...readers learn of the progression of Alice's disease through the reactions of others, as Alice does, so they feel what she feels -- a slowly building terror.

Weary sun rising - Clear winner! Well it's time I finally read a Pratchett.

Dam the flood of disaster - I feel I should read a Norton. "A ship is stranded on an uncharted planet, and notwithstanding the breakdown of disclipline of the mixed alien/human crew members, a shocking and fascinating discovery is made."

Monstrous dwarf Queen Victoria - Bwa ha ha! Recommended to me by a very widely read coworker back in the 90s: "i suppose it could be defined as a "psychological thriller" but its very jungian, steeped in metaphor and symbolism and eroticisim and mythology and shakespeare."

Communications panel - Once caught my eye when looking for sci fi to buy: "Miles is less than 4 ft tall and deformed with delicate bones that break at the slightest strain. He makes up for this physical deficiency by an enormous personality. He’s smart, quick-thinking, creative and cheeky."

As she smiled - Was looking for another sci fi humor author: "one man has discovered the hideous truth: that humanity's ascent to civilization has been ruthlessly guided by a small gang of devious frogs."

The chilling flicker of disillusion nudged like the first twinge of toothache, unexpected, unwelcome, an uneasy hint of possible trouble. - I gotta love this line. I have so been there. Anyway, Francis is on the list because he's considered one of the top mystery authors of all time, and I still haven't read him.

Sea horse penis! This is the nurse talking about her burned patient's body. I remember picking it up and reading a little when the movie was a huge hit, and thinking: There's gonna be some disappointed women buying this book. It is arty.

Shut off the wireless - What a beautiful quote! Beautifully bound book too, I wished I could show that to you guys. About the "impending horrors of the coming Nazi occupation in Europe" and the impact on a museum guard, and a regular.

To the memory of my father: The winner! Maybe you Americans instinctively sensed it's about a Canadian connection to the US Civil War. "A Canadian counter-intelligence novel with a memorable romance at its heart, The Halifax Connection brings to life 1860s Montreal and Halifax with wit, action and a finale that will leave you breathless."

To Mata Hari - Love that dedication. A spy on trial for being a Nazi war criminal. I've never read Vonnegut--seems like a good place to start.

A visitation - Like Twilight, this author was inspired by a dream of the character--in this case a hearing impaired female tailor. "It really tells the life of deaf woman... being excluded from conversations, the tiring practice of lip reading, and the feelings of hopelessness that accompany the affliction. I am a hearing impaired woman myself and I was shocked that someone out there understands." (goodreads reviewer)

Devil in the details - I'm torn about this one. On one hand there's this: " Already hailed as a classic, George R. R. Martin's stunning series is destined to stand as one of the great achievements of imaginative fiction." On the other hand, no one's explained to me why it's so stunning. Also, it's not finished yet.

Nattering about evil - That's exactly what the book is apparently about--the nature of evil, how someone becomes wicked. Intriguing!

Top Picks:


The Time Traveler's Wife
The Little Stranger
Rules of Prey
The Light Fantastic
The English Patient
The Halifax Connection
The Museum Guard


Pretty much any book that begins with "the". Tune in... later... for the thrilling conclusion!

 

Reading multiculturally

Thank-you everyone for participating in the Non Fiction Choice-a-tude, as part of the on-going series Nanaimo Island Reads!

The Corner got some mentions in the comments

Now we begin the fiction English portion, and a game change!

I've separated out the non-western novels, because I like to make sure I read some every year. I would love it if you would consider the countries below and say which two you think I should read a book from. :-)  And later I'll tell you what books they represent!

(If you read these factoids, check out the ethnic and religious diversity, or lack of. Tells you a lot. like whether colonial state boundaries were poorly chosen, or the kinds of issues facing governments. For example in Lebanon seats in Parliament are based on census results, so they don't dare do new ones.)

NIGERIA

 

 

KENYA

 

LEBANON

 

 

EGYPT

TURKEY

 

INDIA