listersgirl (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
listersgirl) wrote2004-04-08 07:37 pm
listersgirl) wrote2004-04-08 07:37 pm
Entry tags:
Booktalk
Lionel Casson Libraries in the Ancient World
This was in my stocking at Christmas (my parents love that I'm a librarian). And, actually, I feel much better for the reading, since I didn't take any library history courses during my degree. I'm pretty sure a great deal of research went into this book, but it didn't feel like a heavy reading textbook. I particularly enjoyed reading about the variety of threats levied on people who didn't return books (or scrolls, more accurately) in ancient libraries.
Jasper Fforde The Well of Lost Plots
I think Fforde is very clever, and has a wildly literary imagination, but I sometimes felt that this particular book was just an excuse to show that off, at least for the first half. It felt a bit like Tuesday was just an excuse to move the reader from place to place, so that the author could put in another funny reference or book reference. But then the plot kicked in (finally), and the rest was definite fun.
Guy Gavriel Kay The Last Light of the Sun
Aah, this was great. Great! Are all of Kay's books based in/inspired by history? I can't remember; I know the most recent ones are, though. I wonder what he's going to do when he's recreated all of Europe. Anyway, book. Based in British & Norse history, with an interested blend of realism and mysticism. My only real complaint is that I felt like I didn't get to know the characters as much as the last book(s) of Kay's that I read, probably because they were a pair and this was just one. But I definitely enjoyed it.
Mark Morton The Lover's Tongue: A Merry Romp Through the Language of Love and Sex
I picked this up on a whim back in Victoria, and this felt like the right time to read it, what with my new obsession with language. And I think all I really have to say is there was something like 6 pages of words for penis. Oh, I also wanted to say that the author is Canadian, so there were some interesting discussions of regional variances between American, Canadian and British English. It was a very fun read overall.
Tamora Pierce Briar's Book
I liked this a lot. Briar is one of my favourite characters in the series, and I enjoyed both his storyline, and the plot point that had the children all working together. And then I discovered that the series has a series sequel! Fun.
This was in my stocking at Christmas (my parents love that I'm a librarian). And, actually, I feel much better for the reading, since I didn't take any library history courses during my degree. I'm pretty sure a great deal of research went into this book, but it didn't feel like a heavy reading textbook. I particularly enjoyed reading about the variety of threats levied on people who didn't return books (or scrolls, more accurately) in ancient libraries.
Jasper Fforde The Well of Lost Plots
I think Fforde is very clever, and has a wildly literary imagination, but I sometimes felt that this particular book was just an excuse to show that off, at least for the first half. It felt a bit like Tuesday was just an excuse to move the reader from place to place, so that the author could put in another funny reference or book reference. But then the plot kicked in (finally), and the rest was definite fun.
Guy Gavriel Kay The Last Light of the Sun
Aah, this was great. Great! Are all of Kay's books based in/inspired by history? I can't remember; I know the most recent ones are, though. I wonder what he's going to do when he's recreated all of Europe. Anyway, book. Based in British & Norse history, with an interested blend of realism and mysticism. My only real complaint is that I felt like I didn't get to know the characters as much as the last book(s) of Kay's that I read, probably because they were a pair and this was just one. But I definitely enjoyed it.
Mark Morton The Lover's Tongue: A Merry Romp Through the Language of Love and Sex
I picked this up on a whim back in Victoria, and this felt like the right time to read it, what with my new obsession with language. And I think all I really have to say is there was something like 6 pages of words for penis. Oh, I also wanted to say that the author is Canadian, so there were some interesting discussions of regional variances between American, Canadian and British English. It was a very fun read overall.
Tamora Pierce Briar's Book
I liked this a lot. Briar is one of my favourite characters in the series, and I enjoyed both his storyline, and the plot point that had the children all working together. And then I discovered that the series has a series sequel! Fun.
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And while some of his works weren't based on history, per se, they've all been inspired by a particular place and sometimes time period. Usually he goes and hangs there for a few years while writing. I'm assuming he's independently wealthy and always has been. :p
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