While She Knits

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

I've been waiting and waiting for Anachred to post, but where is she?

Last Friday's While She Knits post had over 100 comments.  We rock.  And we also, apparently, read.  A lot.

So, if no one minds, how about this for a new question?  Fill in the blanks.

Have you ever read ______________ by _____________?  I've been thinking about reading it.  Is it any good?



(sorry Anachred for any miscommunication on my part and I apologize for the post if you had something in mind)

Comments

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

I'll start. Has anyone read The Lion Hunter, the latest book about Telemakos by Elizabeth Wein?

[avian-xj.livejournal.com]

oh! I hadn't even heard that one was out, and I still need to read the first one that I skipped over by accident. *adds a skicky note to the ever growing pile*

[scottykarrde.livejournal.com]

"pissed as hell, but don't ask"
Not asking, just offering Emerald's cookies. They always help make a bad day better.
Love the icon.

[(Anonymous)]

Yes, I have. I liked it because she's a good writer -- but was a bit disappointed about 2 things. One we've discussed before -- the way she puts her child protagonist through the wringer. The second is that this is really only part one of a book, so it ends with everything completely up in the air. Good news: it looks as though Priamos might make an appearance in part two.
-Philia (still in NM)

[rowana.livejournal.com]

Has anyone else been reading Heyer? I've just finished reading 'The Black Moth' followed by 'Devil's Cub'. I had very different opinions on the respective heroines - Diana made me want to stop reading 'Black Moth' at several points, since her main character trait seemed to be her incredible beauty - highlighted at regular intervals in very descriptive ways. Mary from 'Devil's Cub' fell in the same bracket of some of Heyer's better heroines, I thought, like Anthea from 'The Unknown Ajax' or Frederica.

The plots were fun, as they always are. Heyer does seem to do the same thing over and over, but she does it very well, most of the time, I think.

(*Does not ask about Checkers' mood. At all.*)

[idiosyncreant.livejournal.com]

I actually am! And usually that's not my kind of thing, but I've had an idea for a Regency, and want to research both in non-fiction and novels in the genre.

I just read Devil's Cub. Was very impressed with how much she pitches things up so that by the end the very thing you knew MUST happen is such a great relief and joy.
I'd only read the Corinthian before, which I think I want to reread now. I have the Nonesuch out (as my obligatory second in research) but we shall see.

Heyer

[(Anonymous)]

I don't like insipid heroines, and whatsername in Black Moth wasn't my favorite, but when Heyer writes a pretty fluff for a heroine, it isn't because it's the default position for her. It's more like equal opportunity for fluffheads. Some people ARE beautiful, shy, and spineless. In real life they are lovely people and it doesn't surprise you that someone could love them and want to take care of them. It didn't bother me that her luminous beauty was harped on, because I thought it was necessary to the plot: it was because she was luminously beautiful that she attracted the attention of the Black Moth. And I liked the hero. Even if his taste in women was insipid.

[willow-41z.livejournal.com]

I really liked Anthea-- but more than that, I liked Hugo!

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

I started These Old Shades yesterday but am getting bogged down about 100 pages into it and I'm not sure why.

[dh684.livejournal.com]

I have no plans to read 'The Black Moth' but I've really been wanting to get a copy of 'Black Sheep' which I believe features one of Heyer's older heroines.

[traboule.livejournal.com]

Having read more Heyer than is good for my sanity, I would suggest The Grand Sophy. Sophy is like Frederica only rich and correspondingly independent. She's sort of awesome and has great clothes.

Well, it's my fave anyway, so I feel like anyone who goes around reading Heyer should read it.
And Faro's Daughter was silly - don't bother.

[rosaleeluann.livejournal.com]

Have you ever read The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley? Thats one of my absolute favorites. How about The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale? Another really good one. How about His Majesty's Dragon, by Naomi Novik? I Love Love Love that book.

The reason I ask? All three of those authors are releasing books really really close together at the end of September.

September 18th, Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale will be released.
September 20th, Dragonhaven by Robin Mckinley will be released.
September 25th, Empire of Ivory by Naomi Novik will be released.
(At least, I THINK I have those dates right. They're somewhere thereabouts, at least.)

I think my favorite authors are all conspiring together. I just don't know whether they're conspiring against me, or for me... gah.

[cyberskiver.livejournal.com]

I've read the Blue Sword and The Goose Girl. Liked them both. I hadn't heard about the new books, though, so thanks!

[flamesword.livejournal.com]

OMG *tackles* New McKinley???? HEEEEEEE YAY!! I hart you now. ♥

knit knit knit

[(Anonymous)]

Has anybody read the Hornblower books by Forrester?

mwt

Re: knit knit knit

[empmai.livejournal.com]

No, but they're on my list now!

Sorry, Checkers...

[idiosyncreant.livejournal.com]

I totally failed to remember, is all.

I like your idea (I was thinking of a prompt myself, but thinking that Friday was a long time away--week slipped by in an unusual amount of reading, actually) thanks for doing it.

About the Attolia chapter by chapter...I'll read it all in a few sittings, and then get it back to the library. (Wishful thinking tells me they'll come out with a hardback set to match the most gorgeous KoA, as they have the art for it, though the trend seems in the other direction.

[idiosyncreant.livejournal.com]

Anyone read Daughter of the Forest? (Juliette Marillier)
That one blew me away. Very hard, very uncomfortable, but so well written and quick for it's size.

[traboule.livejournal.com]

Aww, that one is excellent although Sorcha is a little too dippy for my taste. I know she has reason, but I wish she wouldn't cry all the time.

Have you read the other two? I like them better.
How about the second set about Druids - Bridie or something like that? Are they any good?

[willow-41z.livejournal.com]

There's one, Summers at Castle Auburn, and then there's another-- I Capture the Castle. I keep meaning to read both. Verdict?

[queenofattolia.livejournal.com]

I Capture the Castle is great -- a very odd book, but great. Don't see the film version afterward or you'll be bitterly disappointed. The girls and their father are cast perfectly; the American brothers, horribly.

[willow-41z.livejournal.com]

And has anyone read Winter of Fire by Sherryl Jordan? I know I've mentioned it before. It's excellent.

[flamesword.livejournal.com]

An author I love that I don't see get recced very often is Patricia McKillip, particularly her Winter Rose, The Book of Atrix Wolfe, and Song for the Basilisk, as well as the Cygnet duology. I neither read or felt interested by some of her older and better known works like The Riddle-master of Hed and The Forgotten Beasts of Eld, though, but the ones I've read I loved. Very different sort of fantasy writer, very abstract. Lovely.

[(Anonymous)]

Patricia McKillip walks on water.

[peanut13171.livejournal.com]

Have you ever read Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss? It's his first book, and pretty good. It starts a bit slowly, but then becomes quite involving. Great world-building and fascinating characters.

Also, has anyone read Flora Segunda by Isabeau Wilce? Another first book and totally excellent. Lots of fun.

I am amazed at how good so many "first" books are. I always keep an eye on the Campbell Award for Best New SF Writer . I've discovered fabulous authors that way (Jo Walton, Kristine Smith, Elizabeth Bear, John Scalzi, Brandon Sanderson).

[rosaleeluann.livejournal.com]

This is totally irrelevant but I had to share... I'm off to college in a couple weeks and I don't know any of my roommates (*nervous*) but we've been e-mailing to kinda get to know each other before we actually have to live together. One of my roommates just told me that she read The Thief and she liked it! I am so excited! One of my roommates actually listened to my random-ravings-about-books and took a trip to the library?! I think we shall get along just fine. *bouncing up and down in chair*

[empmai.livejournal.com]

Wow, thats so cool that you get to find out who your roomates are and even get to get in touch with them before you get to college. I've never heard of that system, but it makes a lot of sense. I wish they had that system when I went.

Joan Aiken

[peggy-2.livejournal.com]

Has anyone read Go Saddle the Sea by Joan Aiken? It seems to have been released in paperback with two others (Bridle the Wind and The Teeth of the Gale). Having finished the delightful Sherwood Ring by Eliz. Marie Pope, I'm off to read that trilogy next.

Re: Joan Aiken

[idiosyncreant.livejournal.com]

Have you read the Perilous Gard, too?

I love those. I wish she had written more...

[(Anonymous)]

I don't think I've ever read any comments here about Franny Billingsley's "The Folk Keeper." I loved this book -- the voice is really wonderful. And it's SHORT! Yay!
-Philia (who is still trying to read Middlemarch and is only on page 189)

[aged-crone.livejournal.com]

This isn't an "I'm thinking of reading...", but has anybody read the Williamsburg series, by Elswyth Thane? A series of novels about the same family, starting in Revolutionary times in Williamsburg, and finishing up during World War II.