Katherine's Book Babble

Most recently read stuff is listed first. Books that I'm rereading are in this color. You can generally tell from the blurb whether I liked the book or not, but if you don't want to read the blurb, there's also a star rating on the right. Five stars is excellence personified; three stars means that I thought the book enjoyable but not outstanding; one star ratings are rarely earned, in that I rarely finish such books.

Sometimes people ask if I have a favorite book. I point them here.

December, 2007:
A Short History of Nearly Everything Bill Bryson Bill Bryson is a brilliant writer. He follows the progression of human knowledge, dropping interesting tidbits about the people along the way (some of our most brilliant minds had very strange personalities). The book covers astronomy, physics, chemistry, plate tectonics, paleontology, geology, biology, and genetics... all in a very easy-to-read, engaging manner. ****
(Link)
November, 2007:
Baltimore, or, the Steadfast Tin Soldier and the Vampire Mike Mignola and Christopher Golden Fable-ish, gothic horror. Sort of Arabian Nights in that its characters sit around telling one another nested tales. A soldier gains the enmity of a vampire and looses a dark plague upon the world; the soldier must hunt down his nemesis. Lovely descriptive passages and simple angular illustrations. ***
(Link)
October, 2007:
Ulysses James Joyce This book is a classic and though its undoubtable that Joyce is brilliant its also quite sad how the book is almost unreadable due to his cavalier attitude towards punctuation and formatting a tragedy really as some parts of the book are quite fantastic yes he can really write stream of consciousness that man O I particularly liked the parts in the press room and the chapter on Shakespeare but my enjoyment was diminished by having to slog through some really incomprehensible bits to get to the gems all in all its a little much and although there are parts I want to return to there are equally some parts that I never ever want to deal with again. ***
(Read)
September, 2007:
GetBackers, volumes 1-19 Rando Ayamine and Yuyo Aoki Manga, shounen w/ awesome character development. With a few notable exceptions, fighting manga doesn't really get into why characters do what they do. In GB that is emphatically not the case; the characters are continually fascinating, both in word and deed, and much is left intriguingly unsaid. The art style is happily bloody and detailed, and the storylines are intricate and well thought through. The volumes are each worth the reader's while, packed with plot and punch. I'm definitely enjoying this series. ****
(Link - vol. 1)
August, 2007:
Bleach, volumes 1-21 Tite Kubo Manga, unabashedly shounen although some of the characters have big shoujo eyes. By which I mean it's a boy's manga, all fighting and chivalry, each opponent getting progressively stronger so as to challenge the developing protagonist. The action is almost as slow as that of Dragonball Z, each battle taking multiple episodes to complete. But there are plenty of decent battle scenes, as well as enough thoughtful character-building moments so as not to make the characters completely flat. Pretty promising but the 20 volumes I read could have easily been combined into four or five volumes, for all that actually went on behind all the speeches and posturing. Still, a fun ride, one of the better representations of its genre. ***
(Link - series)
July, 2007:
Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea Charles Seife Nonfiction, math. The beginning is promising, documenting the struggle of mathematicians to convince the Church to accept the concepts of zero and infinity. But then we hit modern day, beginning a whirlwind tour of math through limits, diff eqs and theoretical constructs, and on to physics and wormholes and the eventual heat-death of the universe. Too much information, taken down to too basic a level; it will bore those who know the math, and will frustrate those who don't. **
(Link)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows J. K. Rowling Fantasy, the seventh and final of the Harry Potter series. Plenty of action, magic, and heroic soul-searching by the title character as he faces his destiny and his nemesis. Lots of sudden history-dump on previously closed-mouthed secondary characters. A breathless and satisfying conclusion. ****
(Link)
Sunrise Alley Catherine Asaro SF. An android comes to a premier AI expert and pleads for her help. Her acceptance sends her on a dangerous adventure filled with intelligent robots, obsessively evil rivals, and disbelieving bureaucracy. Fast-moving and philosophical. ***
(Read)
June, 2007:
Checkmate Dorothy Dunnett Historical fiction, sixth and last of the Lymond Chronicles. As Lymond cannot return to Russia, he lends his battlefield skills to France. But despite his best efforts, his past becomes a threat to those he loves. Lots of wit, action, and heartrending angst -- a very good conclusion to a very good series. *****
(Link)
Werehunter Mercedes Lackey Fantasy, short stories. Witty and entertaining. Contains several fun bits that become the genesis for later, longer works. ***
(Read)
The Hallowed Hunt Lois McMaster Bujold Fantasy, in the Chalion series. Intrigue, mystery, and centuries-old spirits await a man who just wants to ensure justice for a woman wrongly accused. Bujold's socio-religious structure is complicated but doesn't get in the way of a fast-moving story. ***
(Link)
Gone Bamboo Anthony Bourdain Fiction, guns'n'stuff. A retired hit man who just wants to hang out on an island and smoke pot (and, apparently, cook lots of fine food) finds his past catching up with him. Weak plot and nonexistent character development, but the dialogue is snappy. **
(Link)
May, 2007:
Persepolis Marjane Satrapi Graphic novel, autobiography. In simple and profound pictures, an observant and outspoken girl tells of growing up in Tehran through the Islamic Revolution. Poignant and amazing. Check out the samples in the link. *****
(Link)
World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War Max Brooks Fiction, documentary. Through first-person accounts, a look at the zombie war that almost destroyed civilization and humanity. The premise is ridiculous but the book is astonishingly compelling, especially as regards how the outbreak begins (covered up by the Chinese, of course) and how larger governments (such as the US) ignore early warnings and reports until too late. ****
(Link)
Paladin of Souls Lois McMaster Bujold Fantasy, in which Bujold revisits the land of Chalion and continues her theme of "it's bad to get attention from the gods." This time the burden is on the dowager queen to defeat an invading sorcerous army. ****
(Link)
Past Imperative Dave Duncan Fantasy/historical, a young Englishman spoiling to fight in World War I instead finds himself the subject of a strange prophecy in another world. Smooth reading but very slow to get started; the book didn't grab me until it was almost over. ***
(Link)
Roadmarks Roger Zelazny SF-ish. There is a Road, and people who can travel along it to different times and existences. You can definitely see the beginnings of Zelazny's Amber series in the concept. Story a bit chaotic (these are time travelers after all) but a fun, fast read. ***
(Link)
Old Man's War John Scalzi SF, a sort of retirement-age Starship Troopers. In the future, the elderly are offered the chance to join the army in young, athletic, brand-new bodies. All they have to do is put their lives on the line and fight the freakiest of aliens. ****
(Link)
The Curse of Chalion Lois McMaster Bujold Fantasy, in which a reluctant hero is touched by the gods and finds himself with a difficult mission. Trademark Bujold intricacy and excitement, with a nifty fantasy-religion as well. ****
(Link)
April, 2007:
The Ghost Brigades John Scalzi SF, with philosophy of the soul marching alongside space battles and interplanetary intrigue. The inner conflict of the main character is tricky to deal with and Scalzi does a decent job. Unexpectedly touching. ***
(Link)
Dance of the Happy Shades Alice Munro Short stories, seemingly everyday slices of small town Canadian life. Delicately done, in that the artistry lies in the things that are left unsaid. ***
(Link)
Fever Season C.J. Cherryh Fantasy/SF, third of the Merovingen Nights collaborations. Much more tightly-knit than the previous two. Feels like more of an intervening chapter than a standalone book, as the conflicts are taken to a higher level. ***
(Link)
Black Powder War Naomi Novik Historical fantasy, third in the Temeraire trilogy. Captain Laurence and dragon Temeraire do not sit well with Turkish society; leaving, they plunge into direct confrontation with Napoleon's forces. Action-packed as usual, though the traveling slows the book down a bit. ****
(Link)
The Last Picture Show Larry McMurtry Fiction, small town 1950's. The only reason this gets two stars is because the writing was skillful; the story was merely bearable. Teenagers come of age in a messed-up small-town way, and discover that no matter how much sex they try to have, their lives remain as dull and hopeless as ever. **
(Link)
Kushiel's Scion Jacqueline Carey Fantasy, follows the Phedre novels. Imriel, prince of the blood, was born of traitors, abused by sadists, and raised by heroes. He necessarily has some issues to work out and spends most of the novel doing so. Imriel's story in itself is not as spectacular as the novels that preceded it, but groundwork is laid for a promising sequel. ***
(Link)
March, 2007:
Thud! Terry Pratchett Fantasy, Discworld series. Captain Vimes of the Night Watch reads to his son every day, come hell, high water, or interspecies warfare. Hilarious and touching, definitely one of my favorite Discworld novels. *****
(Link)
Throne of Jade Naomi Novik Historical fantasy, second in the Temeraire trilogy. Captain Laurence, having grudgingly accepted dragon Temeraire into his life, is unwilling to give him up when the Chinese come a-calling to reclaim him. Brilliant work of adapting eighteenth-century technology and politics to a world with dragons, and the adaptation of Chinese culture is fascinating. ****
(Link)
The Love of a Good Woman Alice Munro Short stories. Glimpses of (mostly) ordinary people, of women who feel love, whether born of duty or passion or whatever else. Stories are told in layers, spiraling inwards towards a central event. It's rather like watching the ripples in water, to figure out where the stone landed. Beautifully done. ****
(Link)
The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle Haruki Murakami Fiction. An ordinary man's world begins to change in subtle, disturbing ways: his cat disappears, his wife disappears, and odd people begin communicating with him. He finds himself eventually fighting a mysterious battle that he doesn't quite understand. The plot wanders a bit, but the writing is wonderful and strange. ****
(Link)
The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals Michael Pollan Nonfiction. Humans can eat just about anything -- so what should we eat? Pollan investigates the industrial food complex, explores alternative eating philosophies, and educates the reader as to the importance of thinking carefully about one's food. Very informative and thoughtful. *****
(Link)
Fever Season C.J. Cherryh Fantasy/SF, second of the Merovingen Nights collaborations. Same characters, more stress; it's fever season in the swamp of Merovin, and the politicking gets fierce and bloody. ***
(Link)
February, 2007:
Little, Big John Crowley Magical realism, the epic tale of an ordinary man and the extraordinary family that he marries into. The words are dreamy and gorgeous; the writing is breathtaking and elegant. The story is patient, sometimes almost too slow, and drifts back and forth in time; the cast is large and one is never sure what places are real... but the journey is wondrous and strange, and well worth it at the end. *****
(Link)
The Ringed Castle Dorothy Dunnett Historical fiction, 5th in the Lymond Chronicles. Lymond peddles his talents in Russia, while Phillipa gets mixed up with Lymond's enemies at home; meanwhile, heads of state play politics with the threat of war. The storytelling continues to be riveting and suspenseful. *****
(Link)
Agent to the Stars John Scalzi SF, John Scalzi's first novel. A Hollywood agent is asked to represent an alien race and market them to the people of Earth. Light, hilarious, nothing groundbreaking but very cute. It's available to read online, and it's definitely gotten me interested in the rest of his work. ***
(Read)
Festival Moon C.J. Cherryh Fantasy/SF, first of the Merovingen Nights collaborations. Cherryh is a superlative worldbuilder, and it's great to read others' stories using her characters and backgrounds. ***
(Link)
January, 2007:
Brainiac: Adventures in the Curious, Competitive, Compulsive World of Trivia Buffs Ken Jennings Nonfiction. Ken Jennings writes about trivia, trivia nerds, and his own experience on Jeopardy!. Good overview of trivia in general, from the college bowl circuit to pub games; I particularly like the commentary on the construction of a well-written question. The bits where he interviews trivia collectors are kind of bland, but the amusing personal accounts of Jeopardy! experiences more than make up for it. ****
(Link)
His Majesty's Dragon Naomi Novik Fantasy, historical. Napoleonic wars, except that both sides have dragons, aka His Majesty's Air Corps. A naval captain finds himself saddled with a dragon, and has to learn to fight for England from the air. Very imaginative, lovely 19th century conversation, and the dragon's characterization is precious. Very fun and entertaining read. ****
(Link)
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time Mark Haddon Fiction, mystery, sort-of. Told from a viewpoint of an autistic boy who tries to deduce the killer of his neighbor's dog. Wondrously written; manages to get across the viewpoint of someone who thinks only in logic and numbers, and simultaneously makes him endearing and sympathetic. Fantastic book. ****
(Link)
The Shining Stephen King Fiction, horror. Characters mostly flat, though the depth of the main character is quite impressive (the pull of alcoholism taken to a creepy supernatural level). Horror elements actually rather bland; for me the scene of a slowly dissolving family was actually more disturbing than a haunted hotel could ever be. **
(Link)
Alias Grace Margaret Atwood Fiction, historical. Based on a celebrated real-life murderess from the 1800's. A young doctor tries to apply his fledgling psychological skills to ascertain the guilt or innocence of Grace Marks. The reader learns the tale as the doctor does, from the pretty mouth of Grace herself. Spun out in wonderful Victorian restraint, with lovely attention to detail. ****
(Link)
Angel with the Sword C.J. Cherryh Fantasy/SF, book 1 of Merovingen Nights. A young canal rat does a good deed for a stranger, and finds herself embroiled in politics of the nastiest kind. ***
(Link)
Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly Anthony Bourdain Nonfiction, culinary, biographical. Bourdain tells of his journey from dishwasher at a tourist trap to head chef at Les Halles, and the truly frightening places in between. Full of machismo, practical advice, and fascinating glimpses into the inner workings of restaurant kitchens. ****
(Link)

Booklist archives:  2006 list,  2005 list,  2004 list,  2003 list,  2002 and earlier.

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