WWW Wed Aug 7

What are you currently reading?

The Southern Gates of Arabia by Freya Stark, a European woman who traveled alone through Arabia in the 1930s searching for a city described only in poems and legends. She has a very engaging voice and a lovely way with description, and seems to be disposed to enjoy and admire new sights and experiences. I like this travel narrative so far.

What did you recently finish reading?

Black Glass by Karen Joy Fowler, an early collection of short stories by an authors whose short stories I prefer to her novels. Considering that I typically do not care for the short story, I liked quite a few of these, most of which had a speculative element of some kind.

What do you think you’ll read next?

The Nine Tailors by Dorothy L. Sayers, probably. The only book that might distract me from my Lord Peter Wimsey mystery binge is An Artist of the Floating Hills by Kazuo Ishiguro, which I’ve been wanting to read for a while. As it treats musicians, I wonder how it will compare to An Equal Music by Vikram Seth, which I enjoyed, although moderately. Not being a musician myself, I am at times fascinated and bemused by characters who are music makers.

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.