Tuesday Book Talk

Stuff I’ve Been Reading: June 2012

This June was a stupendously prolific month for two reasons: traveling and unfinished books.

1. The Faerie King by C. A. Cole. While in Scotland, I reread and annotated a hard copy of my friend’s excellent first novel in the Pooka series.
2. An Equal Music by Vikram Seth. This fat novel about musicians kept me occupied for the longest of the three legs of my return flight.
3. The Wasp Factory by Iain Banks (40%). While I adore Iain M. Banks books (SF), I did not much care for this first of the Iain Banks books (mainstream fiction).
4. Shades of Milk and Honey by Mary Robinette Kowal. Home again, I reread the first of the Regency “glamour” novels in preparation for the just-published book two.
5. Glamour in Glass by Mary Robinette Kowal. Book two and a continuation of the above, lots of fun.
6. Swamplandia! by Karen Russell (30%). Despite having won a lot of nominations and awards, and despite my having liked her short story collection St. Lucy’s Home for Girls Raised by Wolves, I disliked this novel about a family (and gator theme park) falling apart.
7. Unnatural Death by Dorothy L. Sayers. In To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis, a character is crazy about Sayers mysteries. This is the third one featuring Lord Peter, though the ones with Harriet Vane in them are said to be better.
8. Strong Poison by Dorothy L. Sayers. Book five of above, and the first novel featuring Harriet Vane. A bit better, but not as good as Agatha Christie.
9. The Shadowed Sun by N. K. Jemisin. The just-published sequel to Jemisin’s first Dreamblood book, The Killing Moon. I liked both of them quite a lot.
10. The Violent Bear It Away by Flannery O’Connor (60%). Now I know why O’Connor is known for her short stories rather than her novels: this is her second and last novel, about a crazed prophet and his great-nephew.
11. Quicksilver by Neal Stephenson. An unusual historical novel by a SFF author set in the Baroque period, about scientists–or, rather, natural philosophers.
12. The Prague Cemetery by Umberto Eco (20%). For this and the following few, see last week’s book talk.
13. The Case of the Missing Servant by Tarquin Hall. See last week’s book review.
14. Prospero Lost by L. Jagi Lamplighter (20%).
15. The Demi-Monde: Winter by Rod Rees. Loved it: will read all four.
16. Night Flight by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.
17. Railsea by China Miéville. See yesterday’s book review.

This month’s books by number: 5 unfinished, 5 fantasy, 3 mystery, 2 literary, 2 science fiction.

Best new read? A tie between Railsea and The Demi-Monde, with Glamour in Glass a close second.