kellshaw | Reading

rocky41_7 posting in

The most recent commute audiobook was The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern, of The Night Circus fame (although admittedly I have not read that one yet). This is a fantasy novel about Zachary, a young man swept into the drama of a secret underground society and the mysterious figures who surround it.

I finished this book on Sunday morning, catching the last 7 minutes of a whopping 19-hour runtime over breakfast, and since then I've settled into a relative disappointment. On paper, this book has so many things that should make it an ace in the hole for me: Book lovers! Cats! Secret magical societies! Queer characters! Women who are something Other taking control of their destinies! And yet, overall, this book just did not land for me.

As is a risk, I think, with all stories that are about the power of stories, The Starless Sea comes off a little pretentious and self-important. It is a book lauding the unmatched importance of books. I felt aware at various points throughout the book of how hard it was trying to appeal to people like me, who would enjoy the idea of a dark-paneled underground room with endless books and an on-demand kitchen, and this sense of pandering did take away from it at times.

However, it also does some interesting things with regards to what it is like to be the person in a story (such as the fate of Eleanor and Simon, once their part in the story is done) as well as the risks of valuing preservation over change and growth. Without giving too much away, there is a secret society in decline, and a woman so determined to prevent its downfall that she ends up causing significant harm to the organization she's trying to save because she is unwilling to accept that an end comes for all things. I enjoyed this theme and I felt like it was echoed well throughout the story, and in many ways it's easy to sympathize with her ultimate goals, if not her methods.

( Read more... )

masterghandalf

This is a repost from Das_sporking2. Previous installments of this sporking may be found here.

Warning: This post contains discussion of the aftermath of the previous chapter, as well as a brief battle scene.

( In which Princess Celendrian takes a trip down (other peoples') memory lane. )

Current Location: Lindon
Current Music: In the Beginning

kalinara posting in

i_read_what

So last time, Sandra, the girlfriend of widowed artist, Alex Adrian, had just been found murdered. Given that Alex is suspected of killing his wife...that could be a bad sign.

( has Jack found a serial killer? )

teres posting in

i_read_what

Chapter Five | Chapter Six (Part II)

A good day, everyone, and welcome back to Lord Foul’s Bane! Last time, Covenant was healed, he creeped on Lena, and they finally made it to Mithil Stonedown.

For the reader post, I don’t have anything; I do want to welcome Silver Adept, though!

Let me go on with this, then.

( We still haven't unpaused quite yet. )

Current Mood: bored

monkiainen posting in

thestoryinside

How it works:
We're going to vote for two genres, based on the new voting selections. The two options with the most votes will be the choices for May. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact the mods or comment in our suggestion
post.

You are voting for TWO genres. Please tick TWO boxes only.

Poll #32999 May Voting Poll

Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 11

View Respondents

Vote for TWO options

View Answers

thriller: mystery, crime, suspense, police procedurals
3 (27.3%)

horror: paranormal, ghost
2 (18.2%)

fantasy: dystopian, utopian, magical realism, supernatural, fairytale, folklore, mythology
4 (36.4%)

sci-fi: space, futuristic, steampunk
1 (9.1%)

nonfiction
4 (36.4%)

classics
1 (9.1%)

movie/tv adaptation
0 (0.0%)

lgbt theme
1 (9.1%)

historical fiction
2 (18.2%)

contemporary: family saga, women's fiction, literary fiction
4 (36.4%)

Choose ONE

View Answers

Female author
8 (80.0%)

Male author
2 (20.0%)

chez_jae

The Witch Is Back (Witch Way Librarian Mysteries, #6)

The Witch Is Back by Angela M. Sanders

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

View all my reviews

I powered through The Witch is Back by Angela M Sanders in less than 24 hours. Woo! It’s the 6th “Witch Way Librarian” mystery, starring witchy librarian Josie Way.

In the midst of an unexpected visit from her mother, Josie takes her on an excursion to the Aerie, the clifftop home where the recently deceased pastor once lived. There, Josie hears angry whispers from the books, and even her mother (who has long denied her own magical abilities) feels ill at ease. Shortly after their trip, several people in the small town of Wilfred receive poison pen letters. Josie’s indicates only that someone knows her secret. Now everyone is angry and suspicious, but the odd letters take a back seat to local gossip when someone is found dead at the base of the Aerie. The man’s wife swears it was murder, and from what Josie gleans from the books around her, she agrees. She needs the help of Sam, local police officer, but first, Josie knows she must tell him she’s a witch.

There were a lot of twists and turns in this one, from Josie angsting over her parents’ disintegrating relationship to angsting over her own relationship with Sam. She was convinced the poison pen letters were tied to the murder, and she struggled to identify the person behind the acts. Frankly, I was able to quickly suss out who sent the letters, but the identity of the killer caught me by surprise. Characters were fully realized and the plot pelted along in a sensible fashion. Some things were left unresolved, which was a tad disappointing.

Favorite lines:
♦ Wilfred was so small and the grapevine so robust that you couldn’t burn toast without hearing about it the next time you bought margarine.
♦ “Some of the world’s most dangerous rulers were masters of glamour who could convince people that the most horrible of actions were justified—desirable, even.”
♦ “Now what?” I asked. // “Pickles,” Mom said. “If you have them.” // “Not the sandwiches, the poison-pen letters.”

Fabulous read—engrossing and delightful. Five stars.

Current Mood: good
Current Music: Avalanche at Stars, game 1

marycatelli posting in

books

Chancy by Louis L'Amour

Adventure in the Wild West.

( Read more... )

marycatelli posting in

book_love

Chancy by Louis L'Amour

Adventure in the Wild West.

( Read more... )

chez_jae

Current Mood: embarrassed
Current Music: "Hallelujah" ~ Jeff Buckley

chez_jae

A Guide to Solving A Murder (Finn and Briar Cozy Mystery #1)

A Guide to Solving A Murder by Courtney McFarlin

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

View all my reviews

I just polished off the last of A Guide to Solving a Murder, the first book in author Courtney McFarlin’s “Finn and Briar” series of cozy mysteries. Main characters are Tessa Windsor, along with her border collie, Finn, and her cat, Briar.

Tess is living the high life. She has her own business leading hikes in the Colorado Rockies, her faithful pets by her side, a brother whom she’s close to, and her BFF, Meggie. Her life is shaken up, however, when she and Paul are named as heirs to a woman they never knew—their great-aunt Euphemia. Paul inherits Euphemia’s home, but Tess inherits her magic. Now she can communicate with her cat and dog, which is amazing. Not so amazing is the very real nightmare Tess has of witnessing a woman’s murder. She recognizes the trail from her dream and travels there, only to find the woman’s body. Both Tess and Paul soon dig into the investigation, Tess by asking questions and Paul utilizing his skills and contacts as a journalist. Finn and Briar lend assistance where they can, and when Tessa gets too close to a killer, it will be up to her pets and her newfound magic to save the day.

Apparently, this series is a spinoff of the author’s “Razzy Cat” series. I have a few book in that series but have yet to read any. At least this one didn’t produce any overt spoilers. I loved Tessa’s ability to speak to Finn and Briar. Who among us wouldn’t want to talk to our pets? Characterizations were wonderful, including the pets. I liked how Paul and Meggie continued to dance around their attraction to one another. The plot moved quickly and held my attention.

Favorite lines:
♦ “It’s been my dream to talk to animals since I was a little girl.”
♦ “He couldn’t find his way out of a wet paper bag with a guide dog.”
♦ One never passes up donuts when one doesn’t have to.

Fun read, four stars

( Trope Test )

Current Mood: good
Current Music: "Run" ~ Hozier

rocky41_7 posting in

books

Book #7 from the "Women in Translation" rec list: Untold Night and Day by Bae Suah, translated from Korean by Deborah Smith.

Trying to accurately describe the plot of this book is an exercise in futility, so I'm not going to bother. All I can say is it centers around Ayami, a woman who is an actress, or maybe a poet, or possibly both, and is on her last day of work at an audio theater for the blind in Seoul.

This is a book I feel like I'd have to read at least one more time all the way through to be able to really discuss the themes and motifs at play. It's an incredibly cerebral novel that never gives up a clear answer about what's happening. What's real or not real changes from scene to scene. Is Ayami an orphan? Did she have a wealthy aunt? Is she the poet from Buha's youth? Is the director the bus driver? Who really got hit by the bus, and who was the murdered woman in the attic? Is Ayami Yeoni? The book leaves you to your own conclusions.

( Read more... )

masterghandalf

This is a repost from Das_sporking2. Previous installments of this sporking may be found here.

Warning: This chapter contains violence and some deaths.

( In which the battle for the Dales begins... in a manner of speaking. )

Current Location: Standing Stone
Current Music: The Battle of Endor I: Forest Ambush

monkiainen posting in

thestoryinside

It's time for our monthly discussion post! This post will remain open for you to contribute at any time, so no pressure. Even if you didn't get around to reading any of your selected books or opted out of participating for the month, you're still more than welcome to take part in the discussion.

Please copy and paste this in the comments!

brithistorian

A. and I finished Person of Interest tonight.

( Spoiler-y things behind a cut... )

Now that I've finished it, I can dive into the wiki and the fanfic without worrying about getting spoiled. I'll probably even write some fanfic of my own — based on the parts of the show I enjoyed most and the style of fanfic I tend to write, expect my fanfic to be "season 3 forever."

At any rate, I really enjoyed the series, I simultaneously wish there had been more of it and am glad that it didn't go on so far that it wore out its welcome, and I recommend it to those of you who haven't seen it!

chez_jae

Tail Gait by Rita Mae Brown

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

View all my reviews

I stayed up almost an hour late last night to finish reading Tail Gait by Rita Mae Brown. It’s the 24th book in the “Mrs Murphy” mystery series. I just read another one in the series, but since it was set around Christmas, I figured this one would be set during the Spring, and I was right. Woo!

Now that Spring has arrived in Crozet, VA, Harry and her family and friends are busy with farming, gardening, golfing, and socializing. Not long after having dinner with retired UVA professor Greg “Ginger” McConnell and some of the UVA football team of ‘59, Harry is dismayed to learn Ginger was gunned down on the golf course. Since he was universally beloved, the police can find no motive for the killing. Harry, however, wonders if something that he was researching led to his untimely death. As she tries to piece together what Ginger was looking into and how it could relate to anything current, Harry puts herself in the crosshairs of a killer.

This was something of a departure in this series. Mrs Murphy seemed to almost take a back seat. Plus, the author was alternately telling another story, one from the time of the Revolutionary War, that impacted current events. I’m not fond of stories that jump around in time, although in this case important information was imparted. The narrative held my attention. Characters were fully realized and portrayed flawlessly.

Favorite lines:
♦ “Smartest thing we ever did, separation of church and state.”
♦ “If that cat gets any bigger, throw some tack on her.”
♦ “She doesn’t need beauty sleep, she needs a beauty coma.”
♦ “Don’t sit under an apple tree and beg for a pear.”

Very good, four stars

Current Mood: cold
Current Music: Flames at Kings

katara posting in

ebookreview

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Harry Potter) by J.K. Rowling, Mary GrandPré
(Illustrator)

Genre:
Fantasy, Middle School, Witches and Wizards, Adventure, Kindle Unlimited, Young Adult, Science Fiction Fantasy, Science Fiction, Book Series, Magic, Wolves, Werewolves, British Literature, Contemporary, Dark, Harry Potter Universe

Publication Date:
June 21, 2003

Page Numbers:
912

Read/Finished Date:
April 15th, 2025 - April 17th, 2025

Rating:
5/5

Premise:

Harry Potter is about to start his fifth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Unlike most schoolboys, Harry never enjoys his summer holidays, but this summer is even worse than usual. The Dursleys, of course, are making his life a misery, but even his best friends, Ron and Hermione, seem to be neglecting him.

Harry has had enough. He is beginning to think he must do something, anything, to change his situation, when the summer holidays come to an end in a very dramatic fashion. What Harry is about to discover in his new year at Hogwarts will turn his world upside down...

Review:

This is the fifth book in the Harry Potter series and is set shortly after the events of the fourth book. The Wizarding World is in denial about Voldemort's return to power. Instead of addressing the threat he poses to the Wizarding World, the Ministry of Magic appoints Dolores Umbridge as the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher.

While Umbridge exerts her authority over the school of magic, Harry, along with Hermione and Ron, recognizes the danger Voldemort's return brings and forms a secret group called "Dumbledore's Army" to learn and practice defensive spells.

In Order of the Phoenix, you see a large jump in Harry's character growth. He has taken charge and started a secret group with the hopes of teaching those who are willing to learn to protect themselves from the danger Voldemort and his Death Eaters pose, not only to the Wizarding World but also to the school.

I am not going to lie; this book is thick and I mean it is one of three thick books in the series. The first time I read this book, it took me a full night to get through it. Unfortunately, I don't have that leisure anymore.

This book gets dark and we learn of the prophecy told by Sybill Trelawney. While the prophecy does speak of a child born at the end of July who will defeat Voldemort, it does not specify that child is Harry. Also, we see one of the beloved characters, Sirius, die in this one. His character growth never really happens in this novel and who can blame him? He is immature, but wouldn't you be if you spent your entire life in Azkaban? I wish Rowling had given him a chance to grow, to know his godson more, and to be able to fully return House of Black to what it should have been without the blood purity to it.

But I also see the reason why she had to kill him off. Harry needed the push for his character to move forward and become what Sirius wanted from him - a great wizard.

Similar Books:

The Hunger Games Series by Suzanne Collins
The Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer
Percy Jackson Universe by Rick Riordan

Current Mood: anxious
Current Location: Aboveground
Current Music: Luna .:. Alessandro Safina

kalinara posting in

i_read_what

So plot twist!

You may notice that the title of this review is NOT "Eagle and the Nightingales". That's because I did some checking and learned that it's the FOURTH book in the series, not the third!

A Cast of Corbies is a weirdly situated book. It appears to be the start of an aborted spinoff series called "Bardic Choices", but what differentiates that from a Bardic VOICES book is unclear. It doesn't help, I suppose, that there was never a #2 in this side series. And since A Cast of Corbies takes place in the same setting - featuring Raven, by the way, it seems appropriate to slot it in here.

I WILL be doing Eagle and the Nightingales eventually, if only for lots of bird-fucking jokes, but not yet.

As for this book, I think I actually DID read this one. But the only thing I remember from it is a running joke. So it should be interesting to read it now.

One interesting note is that this book is co-written by Josepha Sherman. Sherman's collaborated on a number of Lackey books, including some of her Bard's Tale books (which feature a renegade dark elf in a very different style from Drizzt) and other urban fantasy elf books. I vaguely remember that she'd written an elf-in-historical Britain series as well (the elf was assumed to come from Cathay/China, because of his dark hair and elf eyes. It's funny what sticks with you.)

( So anyway let's get started! )

brithistorian

In an article in the March 2025 issue of Multilingual magazine, I learned that while there's a sizable minority in Spain who speak Catalan, very few of those people are monolingual in Catalan. Therefore, it's common for Spanish publishers to buy both the Spanish and Catalan translation rights for a book but only produce a Spanish edition. They thus get most of the Catalan readers (because most of them also read Spanish) without the expense of producing a Catalan edition and without the chance that someone else will produce a Catalan edition and cut into their sales. This strikes me as yet another of those things that's a best practice within the "rules" of capitalism while at the same time being a generally scummy thing to do.

cyare posting in

booknook

It's Wednesday!

What are you reading?

kalinara posting in

i_read_what

Things are still a little hectic for me, but I do intend to start Eagle and the Nightingale tomorrow. Hopefully I'll be back to a more regular schedule soon!

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kellshaw

Kell Shaw's Author Website

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rocky41_7 in books - Recent Reading: The Starless Sea
masterghandalf - Fellowship of the King Book II Chapter Two: I Dreamed of Numenor, Part One
kalinara in i_read_what - Art in the Blood - Chapter Eight
teres in i_read_what - Lord Foul's Bane: Chapter 6: Legend of Berek Halfhand (Part I)
monkiainen in thestoryinside - May Voting Post
chez_jae - Book 44, 2025
marycatelli in books - Chancy
marycatelli in book_love - Chancy
chez_jae - Tortoiseshell Cat Appreciation Day (It was actually yesterday--sorry, Annalise!)
chez_jae - Book 43, 2025
rocky41_7 in books - Recent Reading: Untold Night and Day
masterghandalf - All Shadows Fled Chapter Five: Glorious Victories are Elusive Things
monkiainen in thestoryinside - April Discussion Post
brithistorian - Series final reaction — Person of Interest
chez_jae - Book 42, 2025
katara in ebookreview - [ 643 ]
kalinara in i_read_what - A Cast of Corbies - Introduction and Chapter One
brithistorian - Interesting translation fact I learned this week
cyare in booknook - RIP (Read In Progress) Wednesday
kalinara in i_read_what - (no subject)

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Reading

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Harry Potter) by J.K. Rowling, Mary GrandPré(Illustrator)

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Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Harry Potter) by J.K. Rowling, Mary GrandPré
(Illustrator)