Red Seas Under Red Skies by Scott Lynch

Perhaps you want an explanation for why my posting has been so sparse lately?  Or perhaps since it has always been erratic it is what you expect from me.  Well for those of you wondering, I've been busy with grad school and I have been spending an enormous/insanely stupid amount of time watching tv series that leaves little time for reading.  And I have a million non-fiction books started and none finished.  For those who don't expect much from me, your right!  I am most likely to continue posting erratically.  On the other hand, I think I will try to post a bit more than once every four months:) 

I don't want to jinx the continuing series so I will not say anything negative in this review.  And folks, I've heard the third book is coming soon, according to Wikipedia The Republic of Thieves is due out in March.

So...Things I liked: Scott Lynch, Scott Lynch and Scott Lynch.  Also the main characters Locke and  Jean, and pirates! Especially women pirates, Zamira is awesome, managing to captain a pirate ship and be a mom to two rugrats, Ravelle comes in a close second as first in command of the pirate ship.  And my favorite aspect was the kitten that adopts Locke (this is really not a spoiler - I think that particular kitten has three lines in the whole book).  Although, I definitely could have done with more kittys.

And I think most of the characters would agree with me!

Just so you don't make the same error I did.  I kept waiting for Sabetha to appear, Locke's long ago love interest and friend, until I finally looked it up.  People, she is not going to appear until the March book.  So get ready.  She is long awaited.

I've recently learned that scales from 1 to 5 are preferable to other number types.  I guess scales from 1 to 7 are difficult to interpret.  Scales from 1 to 10 have two weaknesses.  One, they don't have a perfect middle like 3, instead it is 5.5.  Second, people have a more difficult time relegating relative meaning to 10 points rather than five, so it also becomes more difficult to interpret.  Or something like that.  So I am changing my scale from 1 to 5 rather than 1 to 10.

Liked the book, enjoyed the book, want to read more of the Gentleman Bastard Series.
4.3 (And don't ask me how to interpret .3, my rating system is not yet a science;)

Pip & Flinx adventures by Alan Dean Foster

Alan Dean Foster wrote the original Star Wars novel (although he went uncredited according to wikipedia) and one of the Star Trek movies.  I therefore intuit he must be a classic.  After picking up the remnants of someone's fandom at the Salvation Army - 14 books of the Pip and Flinx series - I decided to start reading them.  The good is that these three are each about 250 pages - so quick to read.  I enjoyed the first and the second.  The third I didn't care for as much.  I'm debating continuing the series for several reasons.  One, I like the main character but find his character erratic between the three books.  This causes me whiplash as I start to become intrigued about the way his character is developing and then it suddenly stops.  I think this is partly because they are written out of order.  Second, the back story of the characters changes in contradictory ways.  I believe this occurs for the same reason.  Third, I've yet to really enjoy the world that Foster has built.  Thus far, each book has taken place on a different planet or even on multiple planets resulting in a sketched feel. 

Seeing as how I have all the books and they are such quick and easy reads and I want to know if the writing develops I will most likely continue reading them.

5.5 - 6 stars

A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin

I had heard so many positive reviews of Martin's series I decided to give it a try.  I spent June reading the first four books of the series. I was quickly drawn into "A Game of Thrones" although I found switching characters every chapter to be a bit annoying.  I particularly enjoyed Anya, Bran, Tyrion and Jon's storylines.  "A Clash of Kings" did not live up to my expectations from the previous novel but I continued to enjoy the series and the development of Danerys.  "A Storm of Swords" regained my attention and desire to continue the series but the ever darker tone was beginning to wear on me.  "A Feast For Crows" which is really just half of the second book would have ended my reading the series if I was not a) obsessive and b) very interested in Arya's story.  At this point I have come to care little for most of the characters.  I found the continual maiming of main characters to be a weary plot device.  *spoiler* I mean really - Bran, Tyrion, Jaime and Arya! - although I guess it is war.  Additionally I have been disappointed in the little role the direwolves, dragons and 'the others' play in the story.  By the end of the last book it was a chore to read it and every time I came to the end of a reading session I was sad and angry.

These criticisms come mainly from my own preferences rather than from the quality of writer and storyteller Martin is.  I prefer more fantasy than politics and more emotion than intrigue.  I hope that the next book, "A Dance with Dragons" which comes out next month will gain my attention and continue on a bit brighter note.

I read both these books and Thud for the 'Once Upon a Time challenge'.  And although I was not able to link my reviews to their site because I am a Incomptetent, I am counting this challenge met!  I finally accomplished a challenge!  Gold star for me, haha:)

And 6ish or 7ish stars for A Song of Ice and Fire thus far.

Thud by Terry Pratchett

As I enjoy most of Terry Pratchett's books, I also enjoyed this one.  I know I said I wasn't going to read any more of the discworld series but I got this one for free so I had to try it out.  I feel it was better than the Unseen Academicals.  But I do not love Pratchett, I think the tongue and cheek with which he tells his stories puts a distance between me and the characters.  It is hard to take them seriously and hard to feel for them.  The best Pratchett book I have read (and it is very good!) is Nation which managed to take its characters seriously while opening the door to talk about relevant social issues.

Thud deals in racial themes.  In particular, those tensions between the races of darwves and giants, werewolves and vampires, and the main characters mistrust of the vampire race.  Fun reading, yes, but as a satire of the many racial issues that face those of the US it fell flat.

7.5 stars

The Selected Works of T.S. Spivet by Reif Larsen

Creative and original are words that spring to mind to describe this novel.  The protagonist is a twelve year old boy, TS Spivet, who maps the world around him.  The maps that fill the margins of the book- genealogical maps, diagrams, maps of events- stretched my mind as to what a map is.  Of course, anyone who knows anything about maps could have told me that!  And the originality and creativity I'm talking about is rather in the use of the margins.  This includes, not only the beautiful maps and diagrams, but also asides, historical tidbits related to the story.

The story of an amazingly talented boy who wins a Smithsonian Award for adults is set in Montana, very close to my home.  The descriptions of the area, town and people rang true for me.  I loved reading the historical bits and seeing maps and pictures (drawn) of places I know.  But even when TS leaves the area I continued to be enchanted by the margins.

The novel is split into three bits: first, TS at home; second, TS travelling east; third, TS in the east.  My favorite part was the middle when TS's mother introduces the story of a woman ancestor scientist and the trials she faced trying to enter a man's world.  I believe this novel was making the same claim about the difficulties of a genius child trying to enter the same world.

The third part, set in the east, lost clarity.  Perhaps this is because TS himself loses clarity and after Montana, a world of few people and extensive landscapes, the east seems overwhelming.  Yet for me, the story also lost its thread a bit.  A fantastical edge set in and the ending was abrupt.

Larsen manages to write from the first person of a twelve year old who is closer to a child than an adolescent, yet insanely talented and smart, in a convincing and sweet manner.  The propulsion for the character is carefully set and heartbreakingly revealed throughout the novel.  Interestingly, the adult male characters of the book are less carefully drawn, the stereotypical western father, the fame whore eastern bureaucrat, and the distracted scientist who treats a child like an adult.

The novel's faults are more than compensated for by the beauty and interest of the storyline, as well as the creativity and originality of the presentation.  This is a book that one devours with the eyes and the tummy hurts a little.

8.5 stars!

Once Upon a Time Challenge

I've decided to join the wonderful Once Upon a Time Challenge created and hosted by Carl at Stainless Steel Droppings.  I know I have done a terrible job on previous challenges and once I failed a couple of times I decided to give up on challenges.  BUT this is one I know I can do!  First, I can join the Journey level which means that I only need to read one book between now and June that fits within the categories.  Yes! I. Can. Do. This!  Second, my favorite genre is fantasy so I'm pretty sure I would be reading a couple of fantasy books anyway.

So which books will I maybe read in no specific order?
1. The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
2. Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke
3. A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
4. The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi (I'm not sure if this one counts as it is defined as science fiction)
5. Harry Potter e o Calice de Fogo por J.K. Rowling (I need to practice my Portuguese.  Since I've already read it in English it should help me understand the story in Portuguese!)

If you have not done so already check out the challenge and the review site.  Thanks to Carl for a wonderful and fun challenge!

Candide by Voltair

This is  a great book!  Although it was written in 1758, much of our world still resembles that of Candid's (the main character) world.  Candide, who is much influenced by the philosopher, Pangloss, wanders the four corners of the world witnessing and experiencing the greatest cruelties, wars and natural disasters.  Pangloss says "It is demonstrable that things cannot be other than they are; for as all things have been created for some end, they must necessarily be created for the best end."  He is also the originator of the idea that all is for the best in this  "best of all possible worlds".  Yet despite his experiences, Candide holds close Pangloss's philosophies, throwing 18th century optimism back into the face of each new horror.

What is one to make of all the horrible happenings, both natural and man-made?  Why do they occur?  Why do we have wars and murder?  Is it for some higher good, some ultimate plan, some application of free will?

Much of the book, whilst cavorting over the planet in one quick but complete adventure after another, ponders these questions.  Yet, it never does so too seriously.  Voltaire knows when to move on and when to make fun of our cliché questions and answers.  One of the reasons that makes this book so enjoyable to read was the quick and engaging manner of the story, which rushes us from one crazy adventure to the next.  Inevitably, one expects each adventure to go wrong like it has the time before, but the shallow caricature of the characters allows us to view it from a more global perspective.  Unlike Dicken's Oliver Twist, where I felt so sorry for the little orphan and wanted something, anything to go right for him, I was able to enjoy Candide's story without crying over his many tortures.  Instead, I could muse on the connections between Voltaire's world and mine.

- spoiler -

The crowning jewel of the story for me was the last chapter.  One, where our little troupe of characters, has taken up a country dwelling.  They continue to be most unhappy until they have a propitious meeting a stranger "a good old man" who invites them back to his house.  When they arrive they are fed wonderful food by the small family, all of whom live on less than 20 acres and dedicate their time and energy to produce simply but well for themselves.  Candide reflects on this and says, "I know too that we must cultivate our garden."  And so they finally find peace between wanderlust and torture.

The idea here is best summed up by Lester C. Crocker, who edited and wrote the introduction to the Pocket Books 1962 edition.

"This is Voltaire's constructive revolt, against the world, against man, against history.  We must give up aiming for the stars, but refuse, too, to join the wolves; we must cultivate our garden.  Our garden is our limited realm  of virtue, justice and honest labor that is within the compass of our creative powers.  We must start at home, in our own little worlds."

10 Stars! 

Chronic City by Jonathan Lethem

This is my first Lethem book.  A friend got it for me.  It has been an interesting foray into hipster lit - if there is such a thing.  The novel is teeming with name dropping as well as nods and winks to pop culture.  I imagine if one was into this sort of thing it would be quite fun to read the novel.  I, however, can barely remember my name much less someone I failed to watch on tv, in the movies or read.  The book was mostly lost on me.

I found it long winded and a bit dull.  The friendship between the two main characters -- Chase Insteadman (or Chase Unperson - as he is called a one point, an unselfaware goof - and Perkus Tooth) was sweet.  The questioning, searching for truth set amid an alternate reality version of Manhattan seemed juvenile.  At some point in all seriousness Tooth questions the idea of being a part of a simulation.  Although Lethem bring this up a bit tongue-in-cheek, it turns out that he is serious about it.  That was so 1999, and by that you should know that I am referring to "The Matrix".

It is almost 467 pages and I didn't really get into it until the last 150 pages and that mainly because a dog, Eva, showed up.  And I love and wish I had a dog, so I was enchanted by all chapters including Eva.  But really that is a pretty poor reason to start liking a novel.

I'm sure that people, much hipper than I, would find much more to complement.  I am just a hick from the boonies definitely not Lethem's target audience.

ETA:  Chase's fiancée is an astronaut living on a declining space station.  Her letters to Chase that appear in the book every so often are really the highlight.  Beautifully written, lucid and personable, exactly what every other person in the book is not.  I've heard they were even published separately from the novel.

First three hundred or so pages 5 stars
last hundred and fifty or so 6 stars
Astronaut's letters 10
For a total score of 6.5 

Towers of Midnight by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson

As you may have noticed - since neither Chronic City nor Candide have moved off the shelf, I have been blogging my back log of books.  I do have quite a long back log of books since I did such a bad job of blogging about them over the past year.  It has been fun to revisit them.  I may even begin blogging some of the academic books I read, if only for my own ability to remember what they are about.  I read Towers of Midnight during the end of December.

The 13th book in the Wheel of Time series!  Only one more to go, one more year of waiting.  This book seemed similar to a traditional second book of a trilogy.  It is setting up the revelations and last battle of the final book.  Thereby it does not stand alone as well.

It was certainly readable and enjoyable.  I think here I missed Jordan's take on the characters and I got a little lost in Aviendha's small but important story.  The emotional weight that Jordan was so capable of installing in his characters and, thus our caring for them, is appreciably weakened in Sanderson's telling.  He is able to do this to some extent to the characters he can relate to, like Elayne.  But even in the case of Elayne and Egwene, I find them to be much less full and important to me than when Jordan was writing them.  They seem less intelligent and complex, as well as being a bit stupid romantically.

He does a much better job with Rand, Perrin, and Mat.  Each has transformed into the person they will need to be for the final battle.  Of course, Rand is farthest ahead in his transformation and Mat is definitely trailing. In fact, much of Mat's story needs still to be told.  In this book he became my favorite character for the first time.  I look forward to his and Aviendha's developments in the next and last installment!

So the series Wheel of Time 10 stars
This book 8 stars

Nation and Unseen Academicals by Terry Pratchett

What a wonderful book!  It was written for young adults but I loved it.  It questions the idea of savage versus civilized.  It demands that the characters think, think, think even when the conclusions are painful.  The main characters a boy, Mau, and a girl, Daphne, around 13 or 14 are caring but very stubborn and full of duty.

In the wake of a catastrophe, a tidal wave, that washes Mau's tribe away and washes up Daphne's boat, they forsake the rules and demands of their particular societies and cultures to work toward common solutions to their problems.  Together they investigate the science and history of the little island as the small community of survivors grows and together they defeat cannibals and gun carrying English mutineers.

This is a special book because of the caring manner and extent to which Pratchett asks us to question our assumptions and societal constraints.  I think it would be a wonderful book for children.

9 stars

I liked the main characters of this book, but like all of the Discworld series I have read I was not blown away.   The charming Glenda, a champion baker and very smart woman, and Mr. Nutt, brave and intelligent, were great fun to pass time with.  Their inevitable romance was sweet and innocent.

I was interested more in a satirization of academia then football.  Since I am not a big football fan (or any sport fan for that matter) this fell flat for me. The academic aspect was to some extent related to my experience but pretty much wholly lacking.  Perhaps this is just my interpretation of academia.  For these reasons I was not overly enthused about this novel.

In fact, I have not really loved any of the Discworld novels I have read.  I have tried the first two and a smattering on those from the naughts.  I think I may have to give up on this series unless someone can enlighten me to the reasons why I should love it!!!

7 stars