Saturday, October 04, 2008

September book list

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak: This book is amazing. You should read it, if you haven't already.

The Pooh Perplex: Fake literary criticism on Winnie-the-Pooh. Funny for an English major, but not really interesting for anyone else.

Warlock at the Wheel by Diana Wynne Jones: Short stories. I enjoyed them, but I'd already read several, which made them a little less exciting.

Sylvester by Georgette Heyer: Definitely one of my favorite Heyers. Quite amusing.

Powder and Patch by Georgette Heyer: Definitely not one of my favorites.

Sweetblood by Pete Hautman: Lucy, a diabetic, believes that diabetics were the origins of the vampire myth. Meh.

Twilight by Stephanie Meyer: Reviewed HERE.

Simon the Cold Heart by Georgette Heyer: It was okay, but not a favorite.

Changing Planes by Ursula LeGuin: LeGuin is almost always great (I failed to get through Left Hand of Darkness). This was no exception. A travelogue from different "planes," which you reach only when you're in an airport.

Out of Patience by Brian Meehl: This was a fun read, but nothing more. Kooky band of characters and a Curse.

Witch Week by Diana Wynne Jones: Normally, I love Chrestomanci, but this was only okay. Definitely read the rest of the series before this one.

Wild Roses by Deb Calletti: This was hard to read for me. It struck far too close to home in some places.

Mixed Magics by Diana Wynne Jones: YAY DWJ!

Pistols for Two by Georgette Heyer: Short stories. I enjoyed them a lot!

Faro's Daughter by Georgette Heyer: Unusual main characters, but the resolution seemed a tad strained.

The Nonesuch by Georgette Heyer: Definitely a favorite!

The Penderwicks on Gardam Street by Jeanne Birdsall: Even better than the first book. In my opinion, this one puts the Penderwicks firmly in the ranks of classic children's lit.

Chalice by Robin McKinley: Amazing. Reviewed HERE.

The Power of Three by Diana Wynne Jones: Really good DWJ.

The Doctrine of Christ by Bishop Dmitri: This would be very good for a catechumen or someone interested in Orthodoxy, but I didn't find it terribly challenging.

Tales of the Black Widowers by Isaac Asimov: A series of mystery short stories centered around the Black Widower club. There are more, thank goodness, because I really enjoyed these!

Regency Buck by Georgette Heyer: Meh.

Sunshine by Robin McKinley: The more I read this book, the more I love it. Even though I keep saying I can't recommend it. And I can't--I'm also surprised every time by how much stuff there is in there. But...I still love it.

The Changeling Sea by Patricia McKillip: I've tried reading The Tower at Stony Wood several times and have never gotten through it. I think I just had the wrong book, because this one was excellent.

Hidden Turnings ed Diana Wynne Jones: It was okay. Not wild about it though.

The Toll-gate by Georgette Heyer: Another one that was okay but not great.

Erosion by Jorie Graham: Poetry. I didn't like it as well as Hybrids of Plants and of Ghosts, but it was good.

The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey: I love this book.

A Murder for Her Majesty by Beth Hilgartner: Nice book, probably about the 9-12 age range.

Owl in Love by Patrice Kindl: I hate to put it quite this way, but this book is in the same vein as Twilight (teenage love, fantasy) but better. Much better.

Instead of the Thorn, Barren Corn by Georgette Heyer: These books are quite similar. I was not fond of either. They're set in about the 1920s.

The Oxford Murders by Guillermo Martinez: Mystery set in Oxford. Meh. I skimmed the last half.

1 comment:

Mimi said...

Oooh, I love "Daughter of Time" too, sounds like a good list.

LeGuin is going to be speaking here on Friday night, alas, I have dinner plans and will miss her. I'd love to hear her speak, and I don't even like Sci Fi, and enjoy her books.