Eddisian Archival Sheets

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

It's Friday.  Time for another episode of While She Knits (although she actually is meeting with fangirls, not knitting).   

I have two questions for everyone.

  anachred  mentioned that she is reading Jonathon Strange & Mr. Norrell, by Suzanna Clarke.  For those who have read it (without TOO many spoilers, please) what did you think of it?

What else have everyone been reading this week? *coughHP7cough* 

Edit:  I completely forgot to mention - Sounis has 201 members!

Comments

[jazzfish]

I absolutely /adored/ Strange & Norrell. Clarke has a beautiful way with language.

The day of the visit was preceded by stormy weather; rain had made long ragged pools in the bare brown fields; wet roofs were like cold stone mirrors; and Mr Honeyfoot's post-chaise travelled through a world that seemed to contain a much higher proportion of chill grey sky and a much smaller one of solid comfortable earth than was usually the case. (Clarke, 7)

Of course, if you have no patience for lengthy digressions and page-long footnotes you may find the book mostly useful for throwing against the wall in disgust.

I'm actually reading the Harry Potter books for the first time. People have been trying to get me to read them for years and I kept putting them off with "I'll read them when she's bloody well done." I thought I'd be buying myself more time than I have been. (I'm not displeased enough to stop reading, and in fact I'certainly plowing through them faster than I have anything else lately. So I guess they're alright. You know, for children's books. :) I'm just starting on #5 now.

[peggy-2.livejournal.com]

I've been reading The Tiger's Woman by Celeste de Blasis. This is totally not a children's book, but for a trashy romance novel it is quite well written and I adore her books.

Oh, and I'm reading the bazillion pages of the kid's High School Handbook And Guide To Life, The Universe, and Everything Including How To Remove Bloodstains From Just About Everything, which needs a sworn affidavit (probably notarized) that it has been read and discussed by everyone in the household including pets before the kids are allowed on campus.

HP7 is next. Maybe it will even budge in line, and I will start it tonight.

[rowana.livejournal.com]

I loved Strange & Norrell. Never before have I enjoyed a footnote more than the plot at the time (on occasion). Someone described it as being 'like Jane Austen but with magic and footnotes' which is a good way of putting it, I think.

I've started on Sayers. 'The documents in the case' was fantastic, and not at all the sort of thing I've gone for in years, which made it all the more lovely. I wasn't sure what to make of the characters at first - Aggie Milsom was the one with the most extensive set of letters at first, so I think any reader automatically accepts her point of view and sympathises with her a bit. But the way Sayers made my perceptions of all the characters gradually change - even though I could guess at the ending by one point, it was still a pretty good read. I also loved the way that none of the characters - perhaps because the book was largely made up of letters, and was therefore told by different characters at different points, often with different perceptions of the other characters of certain events included - were at all simple. Sayers even changed their writing styles in a way that felt fairly subtle to me (perhaps because I was caught up in the plot and didn't notice until I was quite far in) - and the way she could write earnestly from one characters point of view first and then paint the same character in an entirely different light through someone else's eyes was brilliant, at points.

I think I'm rambling. But yes, it was very good.

[kilerkki.livejournal.com]

I love that description of Strange & Norrell. (It might almost apply to Sorcery and Cecelia as well, except S&C hasn't got footnotes. But I now have strange urges to write read crossovers except I doubt they exist. And I have too many crossovers to handle right now!)

I'm also in love with Sayers. Lord Peter Wimsey ranks right up there at the top of my Literary Hero list (of course Gen and Miles Vorkosigan and Horatio Hornblower are there, too). But the gentleman with the thistledown hair probably tops my Literary Villains list, simply because charming sociopathy has an odd way of making me melt.

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

I started JS&MN and read 100 pages or so then put it down and was relieved to go away from it for awhile. The huge epic with pages and pages of description is just not for me. I picked it up again about a year later and I'm very glad I finished it though I felt it a chore to keep going. The writing is beautifully done and I got a huge kick out of the footnotes. I don't think I'm likely to read the sequel when it comes out, though.

What a lovely, complex, harrowing world Clarke created. And parts of the plot surprised me very much.

I'm trying to read too many things at once now.

[kilerkki.livejournal.com]

You may want to white out the spoilery sentences (just use HTML to change the font color so that people can only see it if they highlight it) just in case anyone stumbles into this thread who hasn't finished the book, since the thread isn't specifically marked for spoilers. :D

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

Good point. Will you please delete your comment and do it again with the spoilers in white, Rosaleeluann? That's a huge spoiler for those who may not be expecting it.

[kilerkki.livejournal.com]

I read Strange & Norrell several weeks ago (from the library) and immediately went to Amazon to order a copy--not for myself, but for my older sister, who I knew would love it. As it turns out, she did. (You can check out our spoiler-laden reactions here (http://kilerkki.livejournal.com/192281.html?thread=865305#t865305)). I think both of us loved it because it coupled the loveliness of Regency writing with a fantastic and utterly believable fantasy world. Like His Majesty's Dragon (but with footnotes and fairies instead of dragons!).

I also just finished the last book in C. S. Forester's Hornblower saga, after ripping through the whole series in about two weeks. And I've recently reread Treasure Island, torn through half a dozen Luke Short Western novels, and read Diana Wynne Jones's new novella The Game as well as Deathly Hallows. However, I've somehow run out of books to read. So I will be keeping a close eye out for recommendations in this thread. :DD

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

I liked J.S. & Mr. N., though it required a good deal of concentration and patience, and I don't feel an immediate temptation to re-read it. I hear there is a sequel in the works, though, so I look forward to that.

I've just read two MG/YA novels: Princess Academy by Shannon Hale, a fantasy which I thoroughly enjoyed for its wit and verve and (mostly) unexpected plot twists, and also the The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer, which was well written and characterized and frequently (perhaps too frequently) wrenching, but unfortunately somewhat predictable plot-wise.

And HP7, of course, though I didn't like it as much as many of my friends did. JKR seemed to have it in for nearly all my favorite characters, which made it a bit hard for me to feel enthusiastic. But perhaps I'll enjoy it more on the re-read.

[rosaleeluann.livejournal.com]

Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell has been on my TBR (to be read) list for a long time. But, seeing as how my TBR list is over 26-pages long... 'nuff said.

I've been reading the Miles books. Much fun. I'm also re-reading QoA before I have to return it to the library... speaking of which, the library closes in less than an hour... YIKES!

So, what did you all think about Deathly Hallows? I liked it overall, but there were a few things that I didn't really like (which is to be expected, of course). []

Ok, question: how exactly are we going to do 'While She Knits' each week? I'm only asking because I thought up a couple ways that some of my favorite books are similar to the thief and want to tell you all to read them. :D

[estarria.livejournal.com]

Has anybody ever read anything by Martha Wells? I'm going through her books now, and I like them pretty well, especially "The Death of the Necromancer." They're fantasy, but they're set in an 1800s type atmosphere (at least that one is...in its sequels, people drive quasi-primitive cars). Anyway, her characters are interesting, and the books are just full of great quotes. (There's a non-spoilery one on my LJ sidebar right now, incidentally.) She's also got one of her books, "The Element of Fire," posted online in its entirety.

From everyone's descriptions, "Jonathan Strange..." sounds like it would be right up my alley, but when I actually picked up the book at the library, something about its appearance and first few pages put me off. I guess I need to try just forcing myself to read it for a while and see if I can overcome my first impression.

Deathly Hallows stuff: I won't say too much, lest this turn into a giant essay, but...(spoilers): (end spoilers)

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

Good question. I'm not sure how we're going to do While She Knits/Eddisian Sheets. Anachred? Anyone else with an opinion?

rosaleeluann, I felt exactly the opposite about that part of HP7. Spoiler in white:

[nutmeg3.livejournal.com]

Stalin's Ghost, the latest Arkady Renko novel, by Martin Cruz Smith. Almost done, and, as always, it's very good.

[dh684.livejournal.com]

Well, to be read anyway, from the library:


Linda Howard's Up Close and Dangerous (romantic suspense, I think).

I previously linked to Mettie Harrison. She's the author of The Princess and the Hound, which I looked up based on a favorable review and because I liked its cover. Turns out the author's a QoA fan as well. On the inside back cover, she mentions she wanted to write a romance and reread a lot of favorites, including P&P, Jane Eyre, GWTW, Shards of Honor, QoA and the Blue Sword.

Another striking cover which caught my eye was Maledicte by Lane Robins.

http://tinyurl.com/yog2de

I looked this up on Amazon as well solely because of its cover. Unfortunately, it's not available at my library and I wasn't altogether pulled in by the excerpt posted on the author's website. Anyone read this?

And I do have a copy of the Clarke book TBR. I'm glad to see so many people enjoyed it.

[dh684.livejournal.com]

Sarah Monette, the author Jade mentioned in a previous thread, has an old series of posts on the Sayers books that you may find of interest once you finish the books, assuming that you do.


http://tinyurl.com/27rfzl

[starlitscribe.livejournal.com]

I haven't read Strange and Norrell, but I've heard of it from so many people that I know I'll have to dig it up at my library sometime very soon...*scribbles mental memo* Haha, rosaleeluann, my TBR list is incredibly long, too.

Of course I read Harry Potter 7...I didn't find it particularly good or particularly bad. The widespread death didn't make me cry as it did for some people, although certain character deaths were upsetting. I suppose making multiple main characters kick the bucket was her attempt at some sort of realism, which is good in a way--some books have the members of the "good side" miraculously survive a violent battle, while the "bad side" members all die/flee in terror--but if she wanted to go in the realistic direction, there were ten thousand other things she could have picked. The point that really stood out for me was the epilogue, which I sincerely disliked. At the end of the book, I still had some unfulfilled hopes--which were completely dashed by those pointless few pages. It was possibly a way to preclude a later sequel *grimace*. Rowling, please, couldn't you leave something for the imagination!? (No offense meant to those who liked it.)

Otherwise...I'm trying to read Dickens' David Copperfield, and it's almost driving me insane. (Again, no offense to those who like him.) His characters may be creative (although, coincidentally, 90% nasty), and his descriptions may have imagery, but the excruciatingly dragging prose ruins it for me. For some odd reason, he and Jules Verne are the only two authors who have managed to bother me with sheer verbosity. :-/

And, on the light-reading side, I have "The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl." I picked it up randomly at the library, and I'm not sure what to think of it so far. Definitely different.

(Wow, I think that was my first post here...I'm such a lurker. Nice to meet all of you, anyhow. :)

LOVE Martha Wells

[peanut13171.livejournal.com]

Love, love, love Martha Wells!! Buy all her stuff in HB. I've read everything of hers except her Stargate books. Watched the first Stargate episode and thought it was beyond dumb. Stupid characters, plot holes, gratuitous female nudity (if we get full-frontal female nudity, we should have gotten full frontal MALE nudity!). I thought maybe just the first episode was retarded, but it turned out the second was, too, so I gave up.

I digress. What I love most about Wells are her characters. Smart, strong snarky women, and hunky secure guys. And I really love her sarcastic sense of humor. She's also fabulous at world-building, most of which is *not* the same-old shop-worn medieval setting of most fantasies.

She's one of my favorite authors (along with Bujold, Pratchett, Laurie King, Patty Briggs, Loretta Chase, MWT, Sherwood Smith, Miller & Lee, Ibbotson, Heyer).

As for JS&MN. It was OK. For me, the problem was that, I didn't care about the characters. So while I'm not sorry I read it, it didn't engage me emotionally. So a mild recommend from me.

Really like the quotes and icons in your journal!

[alineadrklrdsis.livejournal.com]

I've also been reading Harry Potter for the first time. I just got to the third book and am hoping something will happen shortly that will set it apart from other fantasy books. I agree it's not bad for a children's book but it's nothing "special".

[philia-fan.livejournal.com]

Are you trying to read David Copperfield to punish yourself? Or is it some sort of required reading? If it's your own choice, and you don't generally like Dickens, I would try a different book of his, a more likable one. I love Dickens but Copperfield is not a favorite.

[idiosyncreant.livejournal.com]

I agree with Checkers here *is ignorant of how to make white HTML work*. The whole lead up was asking enough. [Was that vague? if not, instruct me in the art of white-out, gracias.]

RE Fridays: I think having a reminder post, and allowing people to post their own also is good, while we can play/make havoc in the comments of the first. I can even do the reminders, if you want. Because Fridays I'm always on. 6_6

Now, what do you do if one of your favorite icons is also now a heartbreaker?

[idiosyncreant.livejournal.com]

My latest post on my personal LJ is about my thoughts on JS and Mr N. I LOVED it.

Tolkien/Austen fan that I am, it was perfect: the sly humor and historical feel with the wild, wild magic around it all. I want to write like that!

Clarke is amazing.

Re: LOVE Martha Wells

[estarria.livejournal.com]

Yay, another fan! I just love her characters too...Nicholas in particular is now on my list of favorite literary people. I'm in the middle of "The Fall of Ile-rien" trilogy, so I'll see what I think of Tremaine and company by the end. And I have around 20-30 quotes from the books that I've typed out and saved on my computer; I'm sure there will be more by the time I've finished them all.

I didn't intend to read her Stargate books, because I've never seen Stargate, but now I'm really glad I haven't. Not a big fan of stupidity or nudity...ugh.

And thanks for the compliment! :)

[(Anonymous)]

I've been reading The Penelopeia by Jane Rawlings, The Surgeon's Mate by Patrick O'Brian, and The Sharing Knife: Legacy by Lois McMaster Bujold. (More or less simultaneously.) Thanks to this community for introducing me to the works of Bujold, btw.

~Feir Dearig

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

The Rawlings book sounds fascinating, Feir. I gasped when I read this line in the Publisher's Review write-up:

seek a cure for the twins' brother, Telemachos, who has been grievously wounded in an attack by a mysterious beast.

Telemachos is the name of the hero of Elizabeth Wein's books, and in the most recent one he is horribly wounded by a lion. I don't know my myths and legends as well as I wish I did.

I liked Legacy better than the first one. Quite a lot better.

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

If you don't mind, why don't you create a post on Fridays and everyone can take it from there? Comment on your post, or create their own, as you say. That sounds good.

To make the font white, type, in front of the text you want hidden:

< font color="white" > but take out the spaces by the brackets.

To change it back, type after the your hidden comment.