2016 Book list #31 and 32: Swordspoint (and Tremontaine: Arrivals)

By Ellen Kushner.

I forgot to blog this when I read it - probably because they are both on my Kindle, rather than 'real books'.  I am having trouble remembering much about these books, but I think, realistically, I am not the target market for 'mannerpunk'.  I found some of the character motivations in Swordspoint a bit unbelieveable. I found Arrival ( which was a bit more of a teaser than a whole book), and I foudn that more intriguing, but have not downloaded yet...

2016 Booklist #30: The Dressmaker

By Rosalie Ham.  (A Bookclub Book).  I was familiar with this book from the movie trailers (I haven't seen the move), so I was expecting a quirky comedy. It was certainly quirky and I guess it was a comedy, but it's a pretty dark book,  with very few sympathetic characters, and an ending that felt like a farce.  There's no doubt that Ham's characters are unique.  Her Australian town is not a typical Aussie town (or maybe it is?? perhaps I should say it's not *stereotypical*), but was it an enjoyable read?  I'm not sure...

(No picture as it was a library book that has gone back to the library!!)

2016 Booklist #29: Soul Kitchen

By Poppy Z. Brite. Brite mentions in her foreward that this book was finished the night before Hurricane Katrina which made reading this quite poignant - how much of the buildings and landscape remained after this book? A good read, Ricky and G-man have slightly more complex problems and are very tired. Perhaps Brite is tired too, as the book feels quite weary, and a conclusion to the main plot line is somewhat demoralising. Still the final *actual* ending is very sweet.
 

2016 Book list #28: Prime

By Poppy Z. Brite. Another charming outing with Ricky and G-man. Two years on, they're not quite as fresh, a bit more weary. This story has quite a cleverly entwined mystery/thriller element that becomes obvious in the end, but otherwise add quite a nice twist to the story. As always, the descriptions of cooking and restaurant life is fascinating.

2016 Booklist #27: Wild

By Cheryl Strayed. I read this for Book Club. I read it very quickly, and it is quite a thrilling read. Strayed accomplished an amazing feat - I think one that I would NEVER attempt. However, I'm not sure it will stay with me long term, not sure why. Even a week or so after finishing,  I don't really feel the impact.

(Still not actually sure how to pronounce Cheryl's last name - i though it was Stry-add, until I read how she came to have it. Actually, just looked it up - it looks like it really is Straid http://www.thenervousbreakdown.com/mbatt/2012/06/hello-my-name-is-cheryl-strayed/)

2016 Booklist #26: Liquor

By Poppy Z. Brite.  OMG - How charming is this book! Poppy Z. Brite was already on my QUILTBAG author list, but the recommendation for this particular series came from a particular friend (Thanks T!).  I'm not sure how to quite categorise this book - cheffy thriller comedy? Ricky and G-man are lifelong friends, lovers and setting up a new restaurant. I loved the level of detail  given about the New Orleans food scene and restaurants in general.  I loved both hot headed Ricky and sensible and calm G-man.  I loved the earthy dialogue, and I have ordered the next two to read.

2016 Booklist #25: Burial Rites

By Hannah Kent.  This was reminiscent of my recent read, Hild, as it's fiction based on true events,  in this case the execution of the last woman in Iceland (Agnes Magnusdottir). It's very well written, and absorbing tale of life in Iceland - I am pretty sure this is the first book in Iceland that I've read! (though written by an Australian). The book weaves 'present day' (which is the incarceration of Agnes with a farming family before the execution), and the events leading up to the murder that she has been charged with.  It seems evident that Kent has meticulously researched the history of the period and the events them selves, I do wonder how much inference she has made about 'what really happened', though I also wonder how important that is (or why I feel it is important to me). Definitely recommended!

2016 Book List #23 and 24: The Drowning Girl and The Red Tree

By Caitlin Kiernan.  It think it was probably a shame that I read these back to back, and that I read The Drowning Girl first, because they have very similar themes/ characters, unreliable narration and even literary references (esp The Mick Turtle's Song from Alice in Wonderland), and I think that 'The Red Tree' was better (but lost impact having read Drowning Girl immediately beforehand).  The main difference I would say between them is that the Drowning Girl is more about a haunting - unsettling but not super scary, whereas The Red Tree is more definitely horror, with an evil presence that brings genuine dread.  I almost felt inclined to reread The Red Tree again, to try and piece together the story better, but ultimately did not, as that would have technically been my third Caitlin Kiernan in a row... (I did go back to recheck a few things in the preface/intro)

There's no doubt that they're both very well written,  but I do feel a bit wary reading more Kiernan, as I don't know whether the similarities were a reflection of her overall writing, or I just lucked out by picking very similar books to read. At some point,  I want to revisit the Writer and the Critic Podcast, where they review the Drowning Girl to see what they say, in part because it was Kirstyn who brought Kiernan to my attention in the first place.

2016 Booklist #20: Leviathan's Blood

By Ben Peek. This is book two in 'The Children' trilogy (though the cover is very subtle about this fact!). To be fair: there is a short report/historical document that neatlys summarises the action from the first book, so you could probably go into this book 'blind'. Things that I love about this book: beautifully written, and full of diverse characters - both in terms of gender and race (and I guess god-status :D). This book expands from the first book with more point of view characters and action happening in very different areas of the world - i liked the introduction of Ooila and the (rather fraught) court of the First Queen. The story is a bit more fractured than the first (where everything was happening in the same city - more or less), but the chapters are really well organised, in terms of building to the climax. The book ends on more of a cliffhanger than the first book (which is not unwelcome!) At this stage I have no idea how this is all going to end...

2016 Booklist #19: The Tainted

By Glenda Larke. Book 3 in the Isles of Glory trilogy. A great ending. Larke incorporates a few more new POV characters to great effect. In this book, there isn't so mcuh a twist as the pleasure in seeing how Larke brings about and ending that has been hinted at through the whole trilogy. I loved the scientific experiments with magic. A great ending.

2016 Booklist #18: Gilfeather

By Glenda Larke. Book 2 in the Isles of Glory trilogy, a bit of a slow start, with the change of POV from Blade to Gilfeather, but it ramped up fairly soon, and ended up breaking my heart! I worked out one twist by myself, but the other completely surprised me. I also love the overarching theme of anthorpology and science that's brought in with the framing letters. A worthy book #2.

2016 Booklist #17: The Last Stormlord

By Glenda Larke. A bit of a slower start than 'The Aware', but such an amazing, complex world! Very relevant to now, given the prominence of water to the story. Huge huge cliffhanger at the end. Fortunately it was a pleasure to read - looking forward to the next one!

2016 Booklist #16: The Girl in the Spider's Web

By David Lagercrantz. There's no doubt this is gripping and entertaining - and it kept me reading well into the early hours. It's not great prose, but the originals weren't that great either - I'd have to reread to compare more closely. One thing I wasn't so keen on was the embellishment of Lisbeth's backstory. I can see that it might have been necessary, but a lot of it didn't ring true to me - especially the comic stuff. Though a clever way of explaining Lisbeth's hacker name.

2016 Booklist #15: The Aware

By Glenda Larke. Have been meaning to read Glenda Larke for years. 'The Aware' is amazing - female main character, very original story with interesting science/anthropologic angle. Highly recommended. I'll read the rest of the trilogy for sure.

2016 Booklist #14: The Last Word

by Hanif Kureishi. Wit rather than substance: http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/13232610

2016 Booklist #13: Nimona

By Noelle Stevenson. Charming, funny and possibly my first graphic novel...

2016 Booklist #12: Death Comes to Pemberley

By PD James. I am afraid I cannot recommend this book. I listed my annoyances here.

2016 Book List #11: The Robber Bride

By Margaret Atwood. Failed to take a photo, so I will just link to my BC post (it was well worth reading)

2016 Booklist #10: Astray

By Emma Donohue. Whoops, I got rid of this before taking a picture! This is a fascinating premise - writing short stories based on historical records, and all related to travel or immigration (and mostly centreds around or in America). The stories are generally well written vignettes, though generally made more poignant due to their historical origins. It lacked the emotional depth of 'Room', however.

2016 Booklist #9: Cherry Crow Children

By Deborah Kalin. Amazing book, amazing horror. Each story is my favorite as I'm reading it. Afterwards? I just can't pick...