Humouress home again (hopefully) in 2024 - fourth thread
This is a continuation of the topic Humouress hopping around the globe in 2024 - third thread.
Talk75 Books Challenge for 2024
Join LibraryThing to post.
1humouress
Welcome to my thread. I'm Nina, currently living in Singapore with my husband, two boys and - the star of the show - Jasper their/ our dog. My sons are superboy - but, sadly, he's given up reading though he used to be keen - and firelion; for Christmas 2021 they got Kindles in my desperate hope to use their love of technology to 'rekindle' their love of reading. (Update: it doesn't seem to be working very well although superboy did tell me he created an account for himself and downloaded some GNs. No idea if he actually read any of them, though - but he's taken the Kindle with him to university.)
I met the 75 book challenge in 2020, for the first time since joining the Challenge in 2010 and exceeded it, finally reading 89 books in the year. In 2021 I made it again and read 92 books. I started a new hobby during the pandemic; I bought a die machine and started making birthday cards for family and friends as a hobby; it takes a lot longer than it looks like it does so it cuts into my reading time (I really should try more audio books) but I'm enjoying the creative process. I only managed 53 books in 2022 and 61 in 2023 - maybe this year, again?
My preferred reading genres are fantasy and sci-fi with a touch of golden age humour, mysteries and the occasional school story though I'll venture further afield (very) occasionally; after the pandemic, I'm giving romance a bit more leeway, though it's been hit and miss. I also have a heap of cookbooks which, really, I ought to crack open and experiment with. We renovated our kitchen in 2023 and hopefully this year I can try out more of those cookbooks. But I'm still on the carnivore diet for my skin issues so my cooking is limited (I want to sample my experiments, after all).
superboy and I are travelling around the globe and have done some LibraryThing meet-ups (as well as some book buying) along the way. It's been lovely to meet people face to face that I've been talking to online for so long.
With Familyhistorian (Meg) in Indigo (Chapters), with Curiossquared (Natalie) in Brick and Mortar Books
Downtown Vancouver, Canada; August 2024 Redmond (Seattle), USA; August 2024
With norabelle (Nora), drneutron (Jim) & Mrs drneutron at Kramers Books With Sakerfalcon (Claire) & SandDune (Rhian)
Washington DC, USA; September 2024 at Foyle's, London, UK; September 2024
>2 humouress: counters & covers (this thread)
>3 humouress: December }
>4 humouress: November } books (this thread; 4th quarter)
>5 humouress: October }
>6 humouress: July - September
>7 humouress: April - June
>8 humouress: January - March
>9 humouress: constellation
>10 humouress: icons
>11 humouress: reading inspirations
>12 humouress: currently reading
>13 humouress: bookmarks & book bullets
>14 humouress: reviews outstanding
>15 humouress: Alphabetical roots
>16 humouress: Acquisitions for the year
>18 humouress: welcome in! and LibraryThing meet-ups in August/ September
⏮️ 75 Book Challenge 2023 thread 4.
1️⃣ First thread Humouress's new domain for 2024
2️⃣ Second thread Humouress settling in for 2024
3️⃣ Third thread Humouress hoping around the globe
🌳 ROOTs Humouress sets ROOTs for 2024
🐉 Green Dragon Humouress drops by in 2024
I met the 75 book challenge in 2020, for the first time since joining the Challenge in 2010 and exceeded it, finally reading 89 books in the year. In 2021 I made it again and read 92 books. I started a new hobby during the pandemic; I bought a die machine and started making birthday cards for family and friends as a hobby; it takes a lot longer than it looks like it does so it cuts into my reading time (I really should try more audio books) but I'm enjoying the creative process. I only managed 53 books in 2022 and 61 in 2023 - maybe this year, again?
My preferred reading genres are fantasy and sci-fi with a touch of golden age humour, mysteries and the occasional school story though I'll venture further afield (very) occasionally; after the pandemic, I'm giving romance a bit more leeway, though it's been hit and miss. I also have a heap of cookbooks which, really, I ought to crack open and experiment with. We renovated our kitchen in 2023 and hopefully this year I can try out more of those cookbooks. But I'm still on the carnivore diet for my skin issues so my cooking is limited (I want to sample my experiments, after all).
superboy and I are travelling around the globe and have done some LibraryThing meet-ups (as well as some book buying) along the way. It's been lovely to meet people face to face that I've been talking to online for so long.
With Familyhistorian (Meg) in Indigo (Chapters), with Curiossquared (Natalie) in Brick and Mortar Books
Downtown Vancouver, Canada; August 2024 Redmond (Seattle), USA; August 2024
With norabelle (Nora), drneutron (Jim) & Mrs drneutron at Kramers Books With Sakerfalcon (Claire) & SandDune (Rhian)
Washington DC, USA; September 2024 at Foyle's, London, UK; September 2024
>2 humouress: counters & covers (this thread)
>3 humouress: December }
>4 humouress: November } books (this thread; 4th quarter)
>5 humouress: October }
>6 humouress: July - September
>7 humouress: April - June
>8 humouress: January - March
>9 humouress: constellation
>10 humouress: icons
>11 humouress: reading inspirations
>12 humouress: currently reading
>13 humouress: bookmarks & book bullets
>14 humouress: reviews outstanding
>15 humouress: Alphabetical roots
>16 humouress: Acquisitions for the year
>18 humouress: welcome in! and LibraryThing meet-ups in August/ September
⏮️ 75 Book Challenge 2023 thread 4.
1️⃣ First thread Humouress's new domain for 2024
2️⃣ Second thread Humouress settling in for 2024
3️⃣ Third thread Humouress hoping around the globe
🌳 ROOTs Humouress sets ROOTs for 2024
🐉 Green Dragon Humouress drops by in 2024
2humouress
2 - counters & covers
October
Total books read for 2022 (goal = 75)
30.09.2024
Reviews posted
October
Total books read for 2022 (goal = 75)30.09.2024
Reviews posted
3humouress
3
(if it's got a tick, I've posted my review to the book's page; stars are self-explanatory; clicking on the number will take you to the post where I've at least put down some ideas; last is the book title and, hopefully, year of publication. I hope you appreciate the alliteration)
(if it's got a tick, I've posted my review to the book's page; stars are self-explanatory; clicking on the number will take you to the post where I've at least put down some ideas; last is the book title and, hopefully, year of publication. I hope you appreciate the alliteration)
review posted/ rated/ written/ read/ (released)
✔ // (#) / Title
December
✔67) Alanna: the First Adventure by Tamora Pierce (1983)
66) A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik
65) The Innocent Mage by Karen Miller
4humouress
4
review posted/ rated/ written/ read/ (released)
✔ /
November
64) The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith
5humouress
5
review posted/ rated/ written/ read/ (released)
✔ /
October
63) Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn
62) I'm Afraid You've Got Dragons by Peter S. Beagle (2024)
61) King of the Book by Brenda W. Clough (2021)
60) The Word is Murder by Anthony Horowitz (2017)
59) Even the Darkest Stars by Heather Fawcett (2017)
8humouress
8
First quarter
review posted/ rated/ written/ read/ (released)
✔ /
March
✔
✔22) Same Time Next Summer by Annabelle Monaghan (2023)
✔
✔20) Off Season by Clive Fleury (2024)
✔19) Paragon Lost by Dave Duncan (2002)
✔
✔
February
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
January
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔
✔01) Coronets and Steel by Sherwood Smith (2010)
9humouress
9
The constellation:
You have got to read this one! 
Really good; worth reading 
Good, but without that special 'something' for me 
Very nice, but a few issues 
An enjoyable book 
Um, okay. Has some redeeming qualities 
Writing is hard. I appreciate the work the author did 
(haven't met one - yet) 
Dire 
Rated only as a warning. Run away. Don't stop. 
Purple stars, from Robin's thread:
5.0
4.5
4.0
3.5
3.0
2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
Robin has made coloured stars for me (happy dance) and the codes are now enshrined in my profile.
The constellation:
Purple stars, from Robin's thread:
5.0
4.5
4.0
3.5
3.0
2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
Robin has made coloured stars for me (happy dance) and the codes are now enshrined in my profile.
10humouress
10 - icons/ library holds
Reading at home :
‘Waiting for the boys to finish classes’ book :
Bedtime reading :Tashi series (yes, still)
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Kindle :
Downtime : Skulduggery Pleasant
Sometimes I make notes on Litsy (also as humouress) as I'm reading so I tuck them in after my reviews.
school parents' Book club (on holiday)(it seems to have faltered)
SF/F Book club Six of Crows (we haven't had a chance to meet & discuss for a while)(this was pre-pre covid; doesn't look like it's gonna happen)
online story
LT Early Reviewers
e-book
audio book
own book/ ROOTs (Read Our Own Tomes)
Overdrive start line & bookmarks:
The Tiger's Daughter
The Game of Kings
Holds
{none}
Holds released:
(The Storyteller’s Death
Psalm for the Wild-built
Lost Tribe of the Sith
Things in Jars
Dune)
Holds
The Whispering Skull
Holds released:
(The Librarian of Crooked Lane)
Holds
{none}
Holds released:
(Daughter of the Moon Goddess)
Libraries:
Reading at home : ‘Waiting for the boys to finish classes’ book : Bedtime reading :Tashi series (yes, still) Kindle : Sometimes I make notes on Litsy (also as humouress) as I'm reading so I tuck them in after my reviews. SF/F Book club Six of Crows (we haven't had a chance to meet & discuss for a while)(this was pre-pre covid; doesn't look like it's gonna happen) online story LT Early Reviewers own book/ ROOTs (Read Our Own Tomes) Overdrive start line & bookmarks: The Game of Kings
Holds
{none}
Holds released:
(The Storyteller’s Death
Psalm for the Wild-built
Lost Tribe of the Sith
Things in Jars
Dune)
Holds
The Whispering Skull
Holds released:
(The Librarian of Crooked Lane)
Holds
{none}
Holds released:
(Daughter of the Moon Goddess)
Libraries:
11humouress
11
Reading inspirations
Ongoing series and/ or group reads:
The Dark is Rising - Susan Cooper
Chronicles of the Cheysuli - Jennifer Roberson
Chronicles of the Kencyrath - P. C. Hodgell (group read, started January 2018; thread 2)
Tashi - Anna Fienberg
The Vorkosigan Saga - Lois McMaster Bujold (2014-2017 group read - savouring it before I run out of these glorious books)
**Farseer (group read starting March 2018) - I stalled on my re-read of the second sub-series but I ought to try and finish it ... sometime
***The Wheel of Time - Robert Jordan (relaxed group read starting January 2019) - making progress ...
{Tor read https://www.tor.com/2018/02/20/reading-the-wheel-of-time-eye-of-the-world-part-1...
Ranger's Apprentice - John Flanagan (group read started January 2019) - pottering on with this one, too
Discworld: Death - Terry Pratchett (group read 2023 starting with Mort in February) - didn't do well with this, either
Ooh, what about...
Lunar Chronicles
Vatta/Honor Harrington
*Ready Player One
Earthseabook 1
*sigh* ... at some point in the future
ETA: not much progress in 2023 either - except for the Belgariad. I've also read book 3, The Dragon Reborn of The Wheel of Time, in preparation for the TV series; I've watched up to the end of series 1 so far.
Reading inspirations
Ongoing series and/ or group reads:
The Dark is Rising - Susan Cooper
Chronicles of the Cheysuli - Jennifer Roberson
Chronicles of the Kencyrath - P. C. Hodgell (group read, started January 2018; thread 2)
Tashi - Anna Fienberg
The Vorkosigan Saga - Lois McMaster Bujold (2014-2017 group read - savouring it before I run out of these glorious books)
**Farseer (group read starting March 2018) - I stalled on my re-read of the second sub-series but I ought to try and finish it ... sometime
***The Wheel of Time - Robert Jordan (relaxed group read starting January 2019) - making progress ...
{Tor read https://www.tor.com/2018/02/20/reading-the-wheel-of-time-eye-of-the-world-part-1...
Ranger's Apprentice - John Flanagan (group read started January 2019) - pottering on with this one, too
Discworld: Death - Terry Pratchett (group read 2023 starting with Mort in February) - didn't do well with this, either
Ooh, what about...
Lunar Chronicles
Vatta/Honor Harrington
*Ready Player One
Earthsea
*sigh* ... at some point in the future
ETA: not much progress in 2023 either - except for the Belgariad. I've also read book 3, The Dragon Reborn of The Wheel of Time, in preparation for the TV series; I've watched up to the end of series 1 so far.
12humouress
12
Currently reading
(quotes)
I set this post up to keep track of quotes for later reviews but now I do that on my Litsy account.
Currently reading
(quotes)
I set this post up to keep track of quotes for later reviews but now I do that on my Litsy account.
13humouress
13
bookmarks
Book bullets
(I'm trying to keep track, but I'm not very good at it.)
I've borrowed Dragon's Bait by Vivian Vande Velde and Race the Sands by Sarah Beth Durst after being hit by BBs for the authors on Connie's ROOTs thread.
October - BB for Assistant to the Villain from drneutron (though there may also have been others who recommended it); BB for Killers of a Certain Age from richardderus's thread (though everyone else already seems to have read it).
bookmarks
Book bullets
(I'm trying to keep track, but I'm not very good at it.)
I've borrowed Dragon's Bait by Vivian Vande Velde and Race the Sands by Sarah Beth Durst after being hit by BBs for the authors on Connie's ROOTs thread.
October - BB for Assistant to the Villain from drneutron (though there may also have been others who recommended it); BB for Killers of a Certain Age from richardderus's thread (though everyone else already seems to have read it).
15humouress
15
Oh yes; I decided I would try to read books off my shelf alphabetically by author. If I can do two a month I should get through the alphabet by the end of the year ie A and B in January; C and D in February and so on. Of course there are some letters (like Q and X) that I don't have any authors for but it's just an experimental idea at this point.
A = Atwater, Olivia - Half a Soul : January
B = Britain, Kristen - The High King's Tomb : January (re-read)
C
D = Duncan, Dave - Paragon Lost : March
E = Eloise, Roxy - Guidal: Discovering Puracordis : March
F = Fleury, Clive - Off Season : March
G = Goddard, Victoria - Stargazy Pie : April
H = Hambly, Barbara - The Time of the Dark : June (re-read)
I
J
K = Kästner, Erich - Emil and the Detectives : July (re-read)
L = Ledford, Hannah - Elephant and Castle : June
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
Oh yes; I decided I would try to read books off my shelf alphabetically by author. If I can do two a month I should get through the alphabet by the end of the year ie A and B in January; C and D in February and so on. Of course there are some letters (like Q and X) that I don't have any authors for but it's just an experimental idea at this point.
A = Atwater, Olivia - Half a Soul : January
B = Britain, Kristen - The High King's Tomb : January (re-read)
C
D = Duncan, Dave - Paragon Lost : March
E = Eloise, Roxy - Guidal: Discovering Puracordis : March
F = Fleury, Clive - Off Season : March
G = Goddard, Victoria - Stargazy Pie : April
H = Hambly, Barbara - The Time of the Dark : June (re-read)
I
J
K = Kästner, Erich - Emil and the Detectives : July (re-read)
L = Ledford, Hannah - Elephant and Castle : June
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
16humouress
16
... but: Acquisitions for the year
Received in the first quarter:
1- Penric's Labors
2- The Time of the Dark (Darwath Trilogy, Book 1)
3- The Walls of Air (Darwath Trilogy, Book 2)
4- The Armies of Daylight (Darwath Trilogy, Book 3)
5- Deathless Gods (Kencyrath)
6- Furysong (THE AURELIAN CYCLE)
7- Moonshine
March
08- 
Lord Valentine's Castle (Book 1)
09-
Off Season : LT/ER
10- Stars Beyond Realms : LT/ER
May
11-
Lockwood & Co: The Screaming Staircase: Book 1 (Lockwood & Co., 1)
12- Lockwood & Co: The Whispering Skull: Book 2
13- Lockwood & Co: The Hollow Boy: Book 3 (Lockwood & Co., 3)
14- Lockwood & Co: The Creeping Shadow
15- The Empty Grave - Lockwood & Co Series Book 5
16- Merciful Crow (The Merciful Crow Series, 1)
17- Faithless Hawk (The Merciful Crow Series, 2)
August
Ordered and received from the Kinokuniya web sale:
18- Divine Rivals (Letters of Enchantment 1)
19- Ruthless Vows (Letters of Enchantment 2)
20- The Mammoth Book of SF Stories by Women anthology
21- Traitor to the Throne (Rebel of the Sands 2)
22- Hero at the Fall (Rebel of the Sands 3)
23- The Timekeeper Conspiracy (Time Wars 2)
24- The Pimpernel Plot (Time Wars 3)
25- The Zenda Vendetta (Time Wars 4)
26- The Hands of the Emperor (Nine Worlds)
27- Petty Treasons (Nine Worlds)
28- Clary Sage (Nine Worlds)
{Hmm ... I may have overshot the mark for my 17th Thingaversary ...)
And then Books K went and had a books and mortar sale (ie in-store):
29- Seasparrow (Graceling 5)
30- Pyramids (Discworld)
31- The Little Prince
Vancouver meet-up
32- Ten Thousand Stitches by Olivia Atwater
33- Longshadow by Olivia Atwater (Regency Faerie Tales 2&3)
Seattle meet-up
34- Nettle and Bone by T. Kingfisher
35- Network Effect by Martha Wells (5th in the Murderbot series)
September
DC meet-up
36- Uprooted: a novel by Naomi Novik
er ... Double or nothing?
London meet-up
37- Elantris - Brandon Sanderson
38- A Stroke of the Pen - Terry Pratchett
39- Spirit of the Wood - Kristen Britain
40- The Last Devil to Die - Richard Osman
My London pilgrimage to Forbidden Planet:
41- The Gate to Futures Past - Julie E. Czerneda
42- Tales from the Folly - Ben Aaronovitch
43- False Value - Ben Aaronovitch
44- Amongst Our Weapons - Ben Aaronovitch
45- Chicks Ahoy anthology omnibus
46- The Last Herald Mage omnibus - Mercedes Lackey
47- Quests & Journeys Myths & Tales anthology
... but: Acquisitions for the year
Received in the first quarter:
1- Penric's Labors
2- The Time of the Dark (Darwath Trilogy, Book 1)
3- The Walls of Air (Darwath Trilogy, Book 2)
4- The Armies of Daylight (Darwath Trilogy, Book 3)
5- Deathless Gods (Kencyrath)
6- Furysong (THE AURELIAN CYCLE)
7- Moonshine
March
08-
Lord Valentine's Castle (Book 1) 09-
Off Season : LT/ER 10-
Stars Beyond Realms : LT/ER May
11-
12-
13-
14-
15-
16-
17-
August
Ordered and received from the Kinokuniya web sale:
18-
19-
20-
21-
22-
23-
24-
25-
26-
27-
28-
{Hmm ... I may have overshot the mark for my 17th Thingaversary ...)
And then Books K went and had a books and mortar sale (ie in-store):
29-
30-
31-
Vancouver meet-up
32-
33-
Seattle meet-up
34-
35-
September
DC meet-up
36-
er ... Double or nothing?
London meet-up
37-
38-
39-
40-
My London pilgrimage to Forbidden Planet:
41-
42-
43-
44-
45-
46-
47-
18humouress
18 - welcome
Jasper - waiting for us at home
superboy and I have been globetrotting and doing some LibraryThing meet-ups - as well as buying (more) books for my shelves (because that's what LibraryThingers also do at meet-ups). As of time of writing, it's almost time to head home but if anyone else wants to meet up, please add to the LibraryThing_Meet-up_Wiki.
Jasper - waiting for us at home
superboy and I have been globetrotting and doing some LibraryThing meet-ups - as well as buying (more) books for my shelves (because that's what LibraryThingers also do at meet-ups). As of time of writing, it's almost time to head home but if anyone else wants to meet up, please add to the LibraryThing_Meet-up_Wiki.
20richardderus
You do generate the data, doncha. New-thread orisons!
21PaulCranswick
Happy new one, Neighbour.
23humouress
>19 quondame: Thank you Susan!
24humouress
>20 richardderus: Thank you. I do my best *blushes modestly*
25humouress
>21 PaulCranswick: Thank you Paul. I hope to meet you too ... some day, some where.
26humouress
>22 figsfromthistle: Thanks Anita. It's been a lot of fun.
28humouress
>27 atozgrl: Thank you Irene!
31humouress
>29 drneutron: Thanks Jim!
32humouress
>30 foggidawn: Thank you foggi!
33humouress
It was my birthday on Tuesday, 8th October so I spent it in Leicester with superboy and friends of ours who will be keeping a weather eye on him for me. superboy got me Jane Austen: The Visual Encyclopedia (from Forbidden Planet when we were in London; he asked and I shouldn't have said yes but I was tempted).
We took a trip up to Manchester and Liverpool last weekend to give him a taste of exploring the UK. We caught up with my cousin and his family and bought football paraphernalia (Manchester City for firelion and Liverpool for myself) as well as taking photos of the stadium (Manchester United's Old Trafford for my husband - who seemed thrilled since he replied 'Mecca!' when I posted the photos). superboy, as a Chelsea fan, found the football part of the trip distasteful except for our visit to the National Football Museum, which was right outside our hotel, and which he consented to visit only after he realised it wasn't solely dedicated to the Manchester clubs.
I did ask charl08 if she wanted to do one more meet-up in Manchester but unfortunately she was feeling under the weather. Though she pointed me in the direction of the Deansgate Waterstones I didn't succumb and now, contemplating my packing, I'm glad I didn't.
We took a trip up to Manchester and Liverpool last weekend to give him a taste of exploring the UK. We caught up with my cousin and his family and bought football paraphernalia (Manchester City for firelion and Liverpool for myself) as well as taking photos of the stadium (Manchester United's Old Trafford for my husband - who seemed thrilled since he replied 'Mecca!' when I posted the photos). superboy, as a Chelsea fan, found the football part of the trip distasteful except for our visit to the National Football Museum, which was right outside our hotel, and which he consented to visit only after he realised it wasn't solely dedicated to the Manchester clubs.
I did ask charl08 if she wanted to do one more meet-up in Manchester but unfortunately she was feeling under the weather. Though she pointed me in the direction of the Deansgate Waterstones I didn't succumb and now, contemplating my packing, I'm glad I didn't.
34cindydavid4
happy birthday Hope you got some books!
35richardderus
>33 humouress: Birthday orisons, Nina! I'm glad you got to get some of your soccer team's bunf as souvenirs.
36humouress
>34 cindydavid4: Thanks Cindy. I didn't get books specifically for my birthday since I picked up so many on the meet-ups - and a few other bookshop trips, like the one to Forbidden Planet. My son got me the Jane Austen one, though.
37humouress
>35 richardderus: Thank you Richard!
38humouress
I went out and bought another suitcase today, though I should be alright on this leg of the journey - having emptied out superboy's suits from half of one case - to make sure that I could distribute the weight of the books & souvenirs I've bought.
On the previous leg (from DC to London) we had to pay United $200 for being 6kg over on one suitcase. We did have enough allowance that we could have moved it to one of the other suitcases but I had just discovered, before leaving my cousin's house, that the lock on the strap had jammed. Fortunately my cousin on this side has a workaround and we managed to open it, but I like this strap (otherwise). So I've spent the last couple of days doing sessions of going through the combinations one by one starting from zero - and guess what combination it opened up at?
On the previous leg (from DC to London) we had to pay United $200 for being 6kg over on one suitcase. We did have enough allowance that we could have moved it to one of the other suitcases but I had just discovered, before leaving my cousin's house, that the lock on the strap had jammed. Fortunately my cousin on this side has a workaround and we managed to open it, but I like this strap (otherwise). So I've spent the last couple of days doing sessions of going through the combinations one by one starting from zero - and guess what combination it opened up at?
39vancouverdeb
Wow! Still on your big trip,Nina! I'm glad you had a good birthday. Happy Belated Birthday. You must be missing Jasper quite a lot by now.
40norabelle414
Happy belated birthday, Nina!
41humouress
Thank you Deborah. I am missing him but we've stayed with a couple of families with dogs over the trip so we've managed :0)
43atozgrl
>33 humouress: A belated happy birthday, Nina!
44humouress
>43 atozgrl: Thank you Irene!
45humouress
Well, I'm home again and the cold snap that's been just ahead of me all trip has hit Singapore too.
46humouress
59) Even the Darkest Stars by Heather Fawcett
{first in Even the Darkest Stars duology; fantasy, young adult, YA, climbing, expedition, adventure, magic}(2017)
This is a difficult one to rate; I read the first part of this book, about scaling the highest peak in that world, in England where it felt unseasonable cold for the beginning of autumn (I'm not a fan of feeling cold) and since I was busy, my reading time wasn't cohesive so I'm not sure how I feel overall about the story though I did enjoy reading it.
Kamzin lives in the village of Azmiri, on the edge of the Empire and overlooking the Nightwood where the witches of this world live. Long ago, Azmiri had been attacked by witches and almost razed but the emperor has cast a spell which keeps them under control. Kamzin is the second daughter of the Elder of Azmiri and is destined to be the village shaman as much as her sister, Lusha, is destined to succeed their father as Elder. But Kamzin isn't good at magic (her friend Tem, the son of a herder who intends his son to follow in his footsteps, has a talent for it) and would much rather be a climber like her mother. And then River Shara, the Royal Explorer, comes to their village on a mission to climb Mount Raksha, the highest, most dangerous peak in their world, and Kamzin thinks she sees a way for her dreams to come true.
However, not all the obstacles are the physical ones of climbing the mountain itself; there are beings such as ghosts and fiangul (zombie-like winged creatures) that try to stop the mission (though I felt some of the dangers were a bit easily overcome).
The story was well written and there were enough details about climbing and slogging through snow to make it feel authentic without cluttering up the narrative - though I'll admit I know next to nothing about climbing and I was more interested in racing ahead to find out what happened. I hadn't registered (or maybe had forgotten) that this is the first book of a duology and so I was a bit surprised that the end of the book wasn't the end of the story; it doesn't end with a cliff-hanger, don't worry, just the end of the mission and the beginning of a new one. I intend to read the second book but I don't feel that I have to rush on to it.
I thought the dragons were cute even though they're not a big feature of the story; they are kept more as pets and because they emit light when they're fed (and, of course, they're constantly hungry). The animal familiars the sisters had were interesting (and I feel that there might be something more to Ragtooth, Kamzin's familiar, since she says he's a fox but other people don't seem sure).
(October 2024)
3.5-4***
{first in Even the Darkest Stars duology; fantasy, young adult, YA, climbing, expedition, adventure, magic}(2017)
This is a difficult one to rate; I read the first part of this book, about scaling the highest peak in that world, in England where it felt unseasonable cold for the beginning of autumn (I'm not a fan of feeling cold) and since I was busy, my reading time wasn't cohesive so I'm not sure how I feel overall about the story though I did enjoy reading it.
Kamzin lives in the village of Azmiri, on the edge of the Empire and overlooking the Nightwood where the witches of this world live. Long ago, Azmiri had been attacked by witches and almost razed but the emperor has cast a spell which keeps them under control. Kamzin is the second daughter of the Elder of Azmiri and is destined to be the village shaman as much as her sister, Lusha, is destined to succeed their father as Elder. But Kamzin isn't good at magic (her friend Tem, the son of a herder who intends his son to follow in his footsteps, has a talent for it) and would much rather be a climber like her mother. And then River Shara, the Royal Explorer, comes to their village on a mission to climb Mount Raksha, the highest, most dangerous peak in their world, and Kamzin thinks she sees a way for her dreams to come true.
However, not all the obstacles are the physical ones of climbing the mountain itself; there are beings such as ghosts and fiangul (zombie-like winged creatures) that try to stop the mission (though I felt some of the dangers were a bit easily overcome).
The story was well written and there were enough details about climbing and slogging through snow to make it feel authentic without cluttering up the narrative - though I'll admit I know next to nothing about climbing and I was more interested in racing ahead to find out what happened. I hadn't registered (or maybe had forgotten) that this is the first book of a duology and so I was a bit surprised that the end of the book wasn't the end of the story; it doesn't end with a cliff-hanger, don't worry, just the end of the mission and the beginning of a new one. I intend to read the second book but I don't feel that I have to rush on to it.
I thought the dragons were cute even though they're not a big feature of the story; they are kept more as pets and because they emit light when they're fed (and, of course, they're constantly hungry). The animal familiars the sisters had were interesting (and I feel that there might be something more to Ragtooth, Kamzin's familiar, since she says he's a fox but other people don't seem sure).
(October 2024)
3.5-4***
47curioussquared
Welcome home! Was Jasper happy to see you?
48humouress
>47 curioussquared: Thanks Natalie! He was happy on the day but now we already seem back to the same old same old. Maybe he's still looking for Nihilan?
49figsfromthistle
>33 humouress: Happy belated birthday! Sounds like you had a wonderful day.
>38 humouress: Overweight fees for luggage is always astronomical.
Welcome home!
>38 humouress: Overweight fees for luggage is always astronomical.
Welcome home!
50humouress
>49 figsfromthistle: Thank you Anita!
52norabelle414
Welcome home, Nina!
53humouress
>51 charl08: Thanks Charlotte. I agree plus it's nice not to have to live out of a suitcase.
I'm sorry we didn't manage to catch up on this trip - maybe next time?
I'm sorry we didn't manage to catch up on this trip - maybe next time?
54humouress
>52 norabelle414: Thanks Nora! It's good to be back.
I'm very slowly getting back into routine - though I'm just back from my morning stint at Riding for the Disabled. I've been lurking on your thread but haven't been posting.
I'm very slowly getting back into routine - though I'm just back from my morning stint at Riding for the Disabled. I've been lurking on your thread but haven't been posting.
55humouress
60) The Word is Murder by Anthony Horowitz
{first of Hawthorne series; detective, crime, London} (2017)
Horowitz writes himself into the story (told in the first person) of a colleague of his investigating a murder.
I stayed up late/ early reading this (partly fuelled by jet-lag) to find out whodunnit. I thought the twists and turns were well written.
We do get to see a couple of murder victims and a crime in progress through his eyes so if you're squeamish about blood on the page, be warned. Despite Horowitz telling us about his work (as an author and scriptwriter - and we even get to sit in on his meeting with Peter Jackson and Steven Spielberg) I felt he was curiously blank as a character. Hawthorne was made to be unlikeable (but somewhat redeems himself at the end)
(October 2024)
4****
litsy
Intriguing concept; the author has written himself into the story as the narrator and even tells us the various TV and book series (eg Alex Rider) that he has written. Now he is collaborating with a police consultant from his TV series to cover a crime he's investigating
… and meeting Peter Jackson & Steven Spielberg to discuss the sequel to the Tintin film!
{first of Hawthorne series; detective, crime, London} (2017)
Horowitz writes himself into the story (told in the first person) of a colleague of his investigating a murder.
I stayed up late/ early reading this (partly fuelled by jet-lag) to find out whodunnit. I thought the twists and turns were well written.
We do get to see a couple of murder victims and a crime in progress through his eyes so if you're squeamish about blood on the page, be warned. Despite Horowitz telling us about his work (as an author and scriptwriter - and we even get to sit in on his meeting with Peter Jackson and Steven Spielberg) I felt he was curiously blank as a character. Hawthorne was made to be unlikeable (but somewhat redeems himself at the end)
(October 2024)
4****
litsy
Intriguing concept; the author has written himself into the story as the narrator and even tells us the various TV and book series (eg Alex Rider) that he has written. Now he is collaborating with a police consultant from his TV series to cover a crime he's investigating
… and meeting Peter Jackson & Steven Spielberg to discuss the sequel to the Tintin film!
56charl08
>53 humouress: I was quite glad to avoid the visit to the football, Nina. I've managed to avoid them all so far.
But yes, more seriously, hope to catch up with you another time. Do you know when you will next be visiting?
But yes, more seriously, hope to catch up with you another time. Do you know when you will next be visiting?
57The_Hibernator
>55 humouress: Sounds good
58humouress
61) The King of the Book by Brenda W. Clough
{second in series; LTER, Victorian, adventures}
Another one that's difficult to rate since I read it on Kindle and it was interrupted by my travels. I seem to underestimate the length of books on Kindle - probably because I'm reluctant to admit that I need glasses for reading so I magnify the font instead which then increases the page count ...
This was an LT Early Reviewer win for me. The first time I tried reading it, I felt it was trying too hard to be 'of the period' and I didn't manage to get very far. This time, having since read a heap of 'Regency romances' which fell short or didn't try at all to get the setting right, it flowed better. And I found the letters of Camlet jr. an amusing diversion. The novel is split into four books and told as excerpts from journals, mainly Marian Halcombe Camlet's and her brother-in-law Walter Hartright's and several from her stepson Micah Brickley Camlet's, all narrated in the first person.
There are a lot of storylines interwoven into this book; Micah runs away from boarding school and goes missing along with his younger sister; Walter Hartright has just been elected to parliament as a junior MP and is allotted to the 'Immoral Acts and Contagious Diseases Subcommittee' to deal with the rising tide of prostitution and its attendant disease in Britain, which has a deleterious effect on military readiness. Meanwhile Marian and Laura are both expecting; Marian delivers her son (her third child, Theo's fifth) early in book 1 and so her following adventures, while still running the household and managing the other children, occur while having to attend to and feed the baby. A lot of the action takes place at Theo Camlet's publishing house - he actually runs two which share offices but have different entrances; Covenant, which publishes sober material like the King James bible, and Sensational which publishes (effectively) mass market paperbacks such as his first wife's very successful books on a character called 'Daisy Darnell' (though he has to work hard to keep copycat novels which are more lurid off the market). (Coincidentally on this trip to London I had reason to visit both Princes Street and Lisle Street where the offices are purported to be located but, though they are within walking distance of each other, they're at opposite ends of Regent Street.)
I like the way that Clough follows many of the old fashioned conventions of writing (which probably also slowed down my reading) so it does feel almost if it could have been written in Victorian times - except for the many instances of Marian dealing with breastfeeding her baby and the tongue in cheek statements and references to Victorian men holding the fates of their womenfolk in their hands. In contrast Marian herself is a strong character, brave and feminine though not helpless and we are often told she isn't pretty. I like the covers for this series which each have a picture of (presumably) Marian's face with her holding something in her hand; her attire and each object change to reflect the story of that book.
Whenever I picked this book up I found it easy to read; the writing worked for the most part and the action flowed well but picking it up again once I did put it down wasn't as easy. I think this was because of the faux-Victorian writing style and because there was a lot going on. There is some social commentary on Victorian life which was informative. It's worth giving this book a go and sticking with it.
3.5-4***
litsy notes
This was an LT Early Reviewer win for me. The first time I tried reading it, I felt it was trying too hard to be 'of the period'. This time, having read a heap of 'Regency romances' which fell short or didn't try at all, it flows better. And I'm finding the letters of Camlet jr. an amusing diversion.
{second in series; LTER, Victorian, adventures}
Another one that's difficult to rate since I read it on Kindle and it was interrupted by my travels. I seem to underestimate the length of books on Kindle - probably because I'm reluctant to admit that I need glasses for reading so I magnify the font instead which then increases the page count ...
This was an LT Early Reviewer win for me. The first time I tried reading it, I felt it was trying too hard to be 'of the period' and I didn't manage to get very far. This time, having since read a heap of 'Regency romances' which fell short or didn't try at all to get the setting right, it flowed better. And I found the letters of Camlet jr. an amusing diversion. The novel is split into four books and told as excerpts from journals, mainly Marian Halcombe Camlet's and her brother-in-law Walter Hartright's and several from her stepson Micah Brickley Camlet's, all narrated in the first person.
There are a lot of storylines interwoven into this book; Micah runs away from boarding school and goes missing along with his younger sister; Walter Hartright has just been elected to parliament as a junior MP and is allotted to the 'Immoral Acts and Contagious Diseases Subcommittee' to deal with the rising tide of prostitution and its attendant disease in Britain, which has a deleterious effect on military readiness. Meanwhile Marian and Laura are both expecting; Marian delivers her son (her third child, Theo's fifth) early in book 1 and so her following adventures, while still running the household and managing the other children, occur while having to attend to and feed the baby. A lot of the action takes place at Theo Camlet's publishing house - he actually runs two which share offices but have different entrances; Covenant, which publishes sober material like the King James bible, and Sensational which publishes (effectively) mass market paperbacks such as his first wife's very successful books on a character called 'Daisy Darnell' (though he has to work hard to keep copycat novels which are more lurid off the market). (Coincidentally on this trip to London I had reason to visit both Princes Street and Lisle Street where the offices are purported to be located but, though they are within walking distance of each other, they're at opposite ends of Regent Street.)
I like the way that Clough follows many of the old fashioned conventions of writing (which probably also slowed down my reading) so it does feel almost if it could have been written in Victorian times - except for the many instances of Marian dealing with breastfeeding her baby and the tongue in cheek statements and references to Victorian men holding the fates of their womenfolk in their hands. In contrast Marian herself is a strong character, brave and feminine though not helpless and we are often told she isn't pretty. I like the covers for this series which each have a picture of (presumably) Marian's face with her holding something in her hand; her attire and each object change to reflect the story of that book.
Whenever I picked this book up I found it easy to read; the writing worked for the most part and the action flowed well but picking it up again once I did put it down wasn't as easy. I think this was because of the faux-Victorian writing style and because there was a lot going on. There is some social commentary on Victorian life which was informative. It's worth giving this book a go and sticking with it.
3.5-4***
litsy notes
This was an LT Early Reviewer win for me. The first time I tried reading it, I felt it was trying too hard to be 'of the period'. This time, having read a heap of 'Regency romances' which fell short or didn't try at all, it flows better. And I'm finding the letters of Camlet jr. an amusing diversion.
59Familyhistorian
Happy new thread! Has the weather warmed up since you’ve been home or is the curse of cold still active, Nina?
60humouress
>56 charl08: We didn't visit the stadiums (except a whistlestop to take photos outside the Manchester United one, for my husband), just the official shops which (for Manchester City and Liverpool) are in their respective city centres.
We have no concrete plans for the next visit to the UK though I'm sure they'll be more frequent now. My husband will be there on work several times a year anyway and firelion wants to see his brother in situ in one of their long breaks.
We have no concrete plans for the next visit to the UK though I'm sure they'll be more frequent now. My husband will be there on work several times a year anyway and firelion wants to see his brother in situ in one of their long breaks.
61humouress
>57 The_Hibernator: I enjoyed it and it is hard to get hold of via my Overdrive libraries so it must be generally popular.
62humouress
>59 Familyhistorian: Thanks Meg! I think normal service has now resumed; it's very hot and humid right now.
63humouress
62) I'm Afraid You’ve Got Dragons by Peter S. Beagle
{stand alone; fantasy, dragons, magic, heroes, quests, Overdrive; NLB} (2024)
I really enjoyed this one and found it easy to read. I liked the protagonists and their friendship. I did find the ending a little bit … unfinished? - maybe I’ll have a look at it again.
Everyone is nice (except, of course, the villain) but they do have their individual characteristics. The villain and one particular dragon are still a bit opaque to me; I’ll have to ponder a bit more. And certain eyes/ eye colours I found a bit confusing - but that’s a minor point.
(I was contemplating getting this one for myself, but maybe not right now.)
Enjoyable, fun, not too heavy but things do get serious at points.
(October 2024)
4.5****
litsy
The title seems humorous but the prologue has an unknown menace approaching an unnamed village with the threat of extinction.
I‘ve just started the first chapter though, which has dragons scrambling over the (presumably) protagonist‘s bed and they seem about as threatening as kittens.
Personae dramatis : Ch 1 - we meet Gaius Aurelius Constantine Heliogabalus Thrax (aka Robert), dragon exterminator who reluctantly hunts dragons - and adopts them
Ch 2 - we meet Princess Cerise in the castle (of the kingdom of Bellemontagne), surrounded by suitors of the less impressive variety, and her parents - but she just wants to learn how to read
Ch 3 - enter crown prince Reginald, sole heir to the kingdom of Corvinia, somewhat more impressive - at least in the looks department - but not interested in courting
{stand alone; fantasy, dragons, magic, heroes, quests, Overdrive; NLB} (2024)
I really enjoyed this one and found it easy to read. I liked the protagonists and their friendship. I did find the ending a little bit … unfinished? - maybe I’ll have a look at it again.
Everyone is nice (except, of course, the villain) but they do have their individual characteristics. The villain and one particular dragon are still a bit opaque to me; I’ll have to ponder a bit more. And certain eyes/ eye colours I found a bit confusing - but that’s a minor point.
(I was contemplating getting this one for myself, but maybe not right now.)
Enjoyable, fun, not too heavy but things do get serious at points.
(October 2024)
4.5****
litsy
The title seems humorous but the prologue has an unknown menace approaching an unnamed village with the threat of extinction.
I‘ve just started the first chapter though, which has dragons scrambling over the (presumably) protagonist‘s bed and they seem about as threatening as kittens.
Personae dramatis : Ch 1 - we meet Gaius Aurelius Constantine Heliogabalus Thrax (aka Robert), dragon exterminator who reluctantly hunts dragons - and adopts them
Ch 2 - we meet Princess Cerise in the castle (of the kingdom of Bellemontagne), surrounded by suitors of the less impressive variety, and her parents - but she just wants to learn how to read
Ch 3 - enter crown prince Reginald, sole heir to the kingdom of Corvinia, somewhat more impressive - at least in the looks department - but not interested in courting
64elorin
>63 humouress: I thought this one was a lot of fun, although as you said it does get serious towards the end.
65humouress
>64 elorin: Some LT reviewers said it was ‘old fashioned fantasy’ - maybe that’s why it appealed to me.
66humouress
63) Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn
Four ladies of a certain age are enjoying a cruise on a luxury yacht in the Caribbean, having been sent by their company to commemorate their retirement. But the yacht is sunk, victim of an assassination attempt - and our heroines realise that they were the intended targets of their own company, code named the Museum. So, having evacuated the yacht with no loss of life (except the assassin’s) they now find themselves on the run with no names, no backup and no pensions. Of course, there’s only one thing they can do - which the company trained them so well for; get justice.
So much fun. I stayed up late/ early reading this one
I liked the WWII espionage vibe; the outfit is left over from the SOE, OSS & Museum Men. And also seeing the ladies as kids at the beginning of their careers and at the end, with all their experience. I liked the flashes of humour (insert quote).
A few minor quibbles: Though they’re only about 5 or 10 years older than me, at times they felt a lot more but mostly they felt far more athletic than I am now. Maybe I was reading too fast but I didn’t feel I got a clear sense of each lady except for Billie, the purported narrator. I enjoyed the flashbacks as much as the story in the present but I did find it odd that the current story was told in the past tense while the flashbacks were told in the present tense, even when something had happened further back in time (like the story of one of the character’s grandmothers in WWI) so it sounded rather weird.
4.5-5****
Four ladies of a certain age are enjoying a cruise on a luxury yacht in the Caribbean, having been sent by their company to commemorate their retirement. But the yacht is sunk, victim of an assassination attempt - and our heroines realise that they were the intended targets of their own company, code named the Museum. So, having evacuated the yacht with no loss of life (except the assassin’s) they now find themselves on the run with no names, no backup and no pensions. Of course, there’s only one thing they can do - which the company trained them so well for; get justice.
So much fun. I stayed up late/ early reading this one
I liked the WWII espionage vibe; the outfit is left over from the SOE, OSS & Museum Men. And also seeing the ladies as kids at the beginning of their careers and at the end, with all their experience. I liked the flashes of humour (insert quote).
A few minor quibbles: Though they’re only about 5 or 10 years older than me, at times they felt a lot more but mostly they felt far more athletic than I am now. Maybe I was reading too fast but I didn’t feel I got a clear sense of each lady except for Billie, the purported narrator. I enjoyed the flashbacks as much as the story in the present but I did find it odd that the current story was told in the past tense while the flashbacks were told in the present tense, even when something had happened further back in time (like the story of one of the character’s grandmothers in WWI) so it sounded rather weird.
4.5-5****
67humouress
64) The Cuckoo’s Calling by Robert Galbraith
{1st in series; crime, detective, contemporary, set in London}
A supermodel fell to her death three months before the story proper opens. Her brother is convinced she was murdered and, on the strength of Strike’s childhood friendship with his brother, hires Cormoran Strike - ex-army, down-and-out detective - to disprove the police verdict of suicide. Strike has just been sent (another) new secretarial temp, Robin, who proves surprisingly efficient at running his sparse office and adept at detective work.
Good writing, though I could use less swearing from the characters. Towards the end of the book, when Strike has done his investigating and found his evidence, he holds his cards close to his chest and Galbraith isn’t as forthcoming with the clues. I guessed at the murderer (we were told that much, that it was murder) but I guessed wrong.
3.5-4****
Litsy notes
- I‘m not quite sure why the title but it‘s about the death of one of 3 adopted children who was a supermodel and her brother‘s convinced she was murdered so he asks Cormoran Strike, a childhood friend of his brother, to investigate. I‘m 3 chapters from the end and I have a suspect in mind … but we‘ll see if I‘m right.
- It‘s not overused and is in context - I suppose - but I wish there was less swearing by the characters.
- Well,I guessed wrong. I had considered the culprit but dismissed them.
- This is the cover from my e-library book. They must be the actors from the TV series (there‘s a TV series?) but I feel that Strike isn‘t depicted as large or as battered as he‘s written
{1st in series; crime, detective, contemporary, set in London}
A supermodel fell to her death three months before the story proper opens. Her brother is convinced she was murdered and, on the strength of Strike’s childhood friendship with his brother, hires Cormoran Strike - ex-army, down-and-out detective - to disprove the police verdict of suicide. Strike has just been sent (another) new secretarial temp, Robin, who proves surprisingly efficient at running his sparse office and adept at detective work.
Good writing, though I could use less swearing from the characters. Towards the end of the book, when Strike has done his investigating and found his evidence, he holds his cards close to his chest and Galbraith isn’t as forthcoming with the clues. I guessed at the murderer (we were told that much, that it was murder) but I guessed wrong.
3.5-4****
Litsy notes
- I‘m not quite sure why the title but it‘s about the death of one of 3 adopted children who was a supermodel and her brother‘s convinced she was murdered so he asks Cormoran Strike, a childhood friend of his brother, to investigate. I‘m 3 chapters from the end and I have a suspect in mind … but we‘ll see if I‘m right.
- It‘s not overused and is in context - I suppose - but I wish there was less swearing by the characters.
- Well,I guessed wrong. I had considered the culprit but dismissed them.
- This is the cover from my e-library book. They must be the actors from the TV series (there‘s a TV series?) but I feel that Strike isn‘t depicted as large or as battered as he‘s written
68charl08
>66 humouress: Sounds fun, I'll have a look in the library. I'm looking for plenty of distracting stuff to store uo for the Xmas break, as the office will be closed for a week.
Although I'll probably crack and read some of it before then!
Although I'll probably crack and read some of it before then!
69figsfromthistle
Dropping in to say hello and wish you a good week ahead.
70elorin
>66 humouress: Onto the wishlist it goes!
71humouress
>68 charl08: A whole week? That's unusually generous. Have a good break and I hope you enjoy the book.
72humouress
>69 figsfromthistle: Thanks Anita. Things are a bit busy; my parents are here, my eldest comes back for the holidays and will turn 21 next week and then his brother will turn 16. We're expecting guests; my husband's brother & family will come to stay with us for a bit, so that will be nice - but then they're having a cousins' reunion so they'll all come to Singapore from all over the world! It'll be fun but hectic.
73humouress
>70 elorin: I hope you enjoy it Robin!
74humouress
Ohhh - still another 11 to go. I don't know if I'll make it before the end of the year. Hang on - one more for the list:
75humouress
65) The Innocent Mage by Karen Miller
Hmm ... should have made notes straight away. Maybe a 3.5-4****
Litsy notes
Enjoying this. It‘s not action packed but more about governance. Asher is the 7th and youngest son of a fisherman who doesn‘t get much cut of the family earnings so he‘s off to the capital of Lur for a year to make his fortune for himself and his dad. We get different POVs, not just Asher‘s. He‘s an Olken but the ruling human race is Doranen; they have magic & came to Lur centuries ago creating a magical Wall to hold back the terrors they fled
Hmm ... should have made notes straight away. Maybe a 3.5-4****
Litsy notes
Enjoying this. It‘s not action packed but more about governance. Asher is the 7th and youngest son of a fisherman who doesn‘t get much cut of the family earnings so he‘s off to the capital of Lur for a year to make his fortune for himself and his dad. We get different POVs, not just Asher‘s. He‘s an Olken but the ruling human race is Doranen; they have magic & came to Lur centuries ago creating a magical Wall to hold back the terrors they fled
76charl08
Just started Killers of a Certain Age - I tagged it to say you recommended it. I'm only 70 pages in but so enjoying it. Thank you!
77humouress
>76 charl08: You're welcome :0) It is fun, isn't it. I'm glad you're enjoying it.
78richardderus
Solstice cheer, Nina!
80richardderus
>79 humouress: The "beyond" bit might be a challenge, but it's the good kind, so I'm runnin' with it.
82humouress
Sorry to neglect you folks but it's been hectic and going to get more hectic. My parents stopped here on the way back to Sydney so they could celebrate Number One grandson's 21st with him. They left yesterday but my brother-in-law came in from the States, just in time to catch up with them. The rest of his family are due in in a couple of days, just after Number Two son's 16th birthday but in time for Christmas.
That'll be fun, eight+ of us around the tree in the morning, but we usually invite friends over for Christmas dinner and I ask them to share the cooking. However, this year my husband's cousins have decided on a family reunion and to stage it in Singapore (which at least cuts down on the traveling for us) between Christmas and New Year. Some of them will come in a bit early so we've invited them over. I suppose I can't really ask them to do any cooking and bring it with them ;0) and I only have a vague idea of what I plan to produce. After that it should be fun (provided I can get out of the kitchen in time) because we're going to be meeting up several times in different places (there are a handful of cousins in Singapore). They'll all end up at ours at some point by my husband is getting it catered.
Nihilan had fun meeting family (and LibraryThingers) on our round the world trip and has caught up with some of them in the UK since I left so I think he'll enjoy it (a lot more than he anticipated doing when it was first proposed!) while my younger son is more gregarious. They get on well with their first cousins, who will be staying with us, so they can't complain too much🤞. It's odd; they only have 2 first cousins while my husband has about 25 and I have about 36 - our parent's generation ran to long families. I sort of feel that they're deprived 🤗.
In the meantime I'm frantically crafting seasonal cards for now and birthday cards for next year (give them all now and save on postage) for all these relatives. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a 16th birthday card to make before Monday ...
That'll be fun, eight+ of us around the tree in the morning, but we usually invite friends over for Christmas dinner and I ask them to share the cooking. However, this year my husband's cousins have decided on a family reunion and to stage it in Singapore (which at least cuts down on the traveling for us) between Christmas and New Year. Some of them will come in a bit early so we've invited them over. I suppose I can't really ask them to do any cooking and bring it with them ;0) and I only have a vague idea of what I plan to produce. After that it should be fun (provided I can get out of the kitchen in time) because we're going to be meeting up several times in different places (there are a handful of cousins in Singapore). They'll all end up at ours at some point by my husband is getting it catered.
Nihilan had fun meeting family (and LibraryThingers) on our round the world trip and has caught up with some of them in the UK since I left so I think he'll enjoy it (a lot more than he anticipated doing when it was first proposed!) while my younger son is more gregarious. They get on well with their first cousins, who will be staying with us, so they can't complain too much🤞. It's odd; they only have 2 first cousins while my husband has about 25 and I have about 36 - our parent's generation ran to long families. I sort of feel that they're deprived 🤗.
In the meantime I'm frantically crafting seasonal cards for now and birthday cards for next year (give them all now and save on postage) for all these relatives. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a 16th birthday card to make before Monday ...
83humouress
... but I will leave you with a picture of Jasper. I think the excitement of having his boy back and the upcoming festivities got too much for him. I took this when we were putting up the decorations (we weren't allowed to until Nihilan was back).
84elorin
Jasper looks exhausted! Happy solstice and many moments of joy in the upcoming festivities!
85humouress
>84 elorin: Thank you Robin (he put in a lot of hard work, poor boy). Wishing you and your family the same!
86humouress
My 21 year old claims he doesn't like celebrating his birthday so I had to put my foot down about making him a cake. He loves eating it - he'll have it for breakfast, lunch and dinner until it's gone (about a day). So I made a cake for him that I could use for my soon to be 16 year old, just in case (their birthdays are 4 days apart).
It's a bit of an odd shape because one son told me to maximise the cake (so I didn't cut it to shape as I'd intended - in fact, I actually started to) and the other one said I use too much icing (I do butter icing but I have to use enough icing sugar to make sure it doesn't melt in the tropical heat). The actual colour wasn't quite as vivid (blue & green per request); the colour balance on my photos is off.
It's a bit of an odd shape because one son told me to maximise the cake (so I didn't cut it to shape as I'd intended - in fact, I actually started to) and the other one said I use too much icing (I do butter icing but I have to use enough icing sugar to make sure it doesn't melt in the tropical heat). The actual colour wasn't quite as vivid (blue & green per request); the colour balance on my photos is off.
87humouress
66) A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik
{first of Scholomance trilogy; fantasy, magic, school, young adult, YA}
A school for magic, a protagonist from the United Kingdom, a prophecy about them, bad guys out to get the students ... is this Harry Potter? Absolutely not.
El (Galadriel - but, hey) has an affinity for the dark side and her great grandmother had a vision that foresaw her destroying the world but her mum is a powerful healer and has brought her up to only use mana (energy you have to work for) for her magic. Everyone automatically assumes that she's on the side of evil and it would be easy for her to be a maleficier (use dark energy) especially with the school trying to push her towards the dark side but her mum has been a powerful force for good in her life even though she hasn't seen her since she started at the Scholomance.
The Scholomance is the school for wizards and is - not quite - in our world. The only way out is at graduation - or death. Students have a high mortality rate between the mals (bad guys) that make it in past the wards and other back stabbing students but it's better than being out in the world until they've learned enough magic to take care of themselves.
Well written. You should read it.
5*****
Litsy notes
Ch 3: she‘s obviously a Liverpool supporter. I‘m a fan!
{first of Scholomance trilogy; fantasy, magic, school, young adult, YA}
A school for magic, a protagonist from the United Kingdom, a prophecy about them, bad guys out to get the students ... is this Harry Potter? Absolutely not.
El (Galadriel - but, hey) has an affinity for the dark side and her great grandmother had a vision that foresaw her destroying the world but her mum is a powerful healer and has brought her up to only use mana (energy you have to work for) for her magic. Everyone automatically assumes that she's on the side of evil and it would be easy for her to be a maleficier (use dark energy) especially with the school trying to push her towards the dark side but her mum has been a powerful force for good in her life even though she hasn't seen her since she started at the Scholomance.
The Scholomance is the school for wizards and is - not quite - in our world. The only way out is at graduation - or death. Students have a high mortality rate between the mals (bad guys) that make it in past the wards and other back stabbing students but it's better than being out in the world until they've learned enough magic to take care of themselves.
Well written. You should read it.
5*****
Litsy notes
Ch 3: she‘s obviously a Liverpool supporter. I‘m a fan!
88quondame
>86 humouress: Brilliant!
>87 humouress: I think the whole Scholomance series is brilliant! A prefect rework of school of magic series expectations!
>87 humouress: I think the whole Scholomance series is brilliant! A prefect rework of school of magic series expectations!
89avatiakh
>87 humouress: My daughter and I loved the Scholomance series. I had to wait a year for each instalment but daughter managed to start just before #3 came out so raced through them in no time.
Sounds like you are having a busy holiday with all those cousins floating around.
Sounds like you are having a busy holiday with all those cousins floating around.
90norabelle414
>86 humouress: That cake is so clever!! I love it!
91humouress
>88 quondame: Thanks Susan!
I keep looking forward to getting back to the book and then remember that I've already finished it. I'm wondering if I should forego my usual practice of spacing out a series and just read the rest of them. But then I won't have them to look forward to ...
I keep looking forward to getting back to the book and then remember that I've already finished it. I'm wondering if I should forego my usual practice of spacing out a series and just read the rest of them. But then I won't have them to look forward to ...
92humouress
>89 avatiakh: Fortunately for me, I've already got my paws on all three so I can race ahead. But maybe I'll stretch them out and savour them.
Yup - expecting one set to land imminently and they're planning to drop in at our place before going on to their hotel, then my BIL's family come in tonight and will stay with us and then some of them will come over for Christmas dinner and then it really gets going!
Yup - expecting one set to land imminently and they're planning to drop in at our place before going on to their hotel, then my BIL's family come in tonight and will stay with us and then some of them will come over for Christmas dinner and then it really gets going!
93humouress
>90 norabelle414: Thank you Nora :0) It's probably the only ages I'll ever be able to that for them.
95elorin
I'm dropping in to say happy Christmas Eve but you're already in Christmas no doubt. Either way, happiest of holidays with the family.
97PaulCranswick
Thinking of you at this time, Neighbour.
Still just Christmas day for us both.
99drneutron
I'm kinda lonely over here....
https://www.librarything.com/ngroups/24622/75-Books-Challenge-for-2025
https://www.librarything.com/ngroups/24622/75-Books-Challenge-for-2025
100humouress
>94 curioussquared: Thanks Natalie! Seriously hectic over here at the moment.
101humouress
>95 elorin: Thank you Robin. Unfortunately things are too busy for me to do the LT rounds but wishing you and your family all the best for the season.
102humouress
>96 SandDune: Thank you Rhian! Wishing you and your family the same!
103humouress
>97 PaulCranswick: Thank you Paul. Unfortunately, our KL trip isn't going to happen (but that's sort of par for the course :0( right?)
104humouress
>99 drneutron: I'll be over in the New Year ... sometime ;0)
105humouress
67) Alanna: the First Adventure by Tamora Pierce
{first of Song of the Lioness quartet; fantasy, magic, young adult, YA, re-read}
recently acquired this series with fond memories of reading it when I was of an age to want to be a knight and wield magic (still do, just too agéd).
Alanna wants to be a knight (which girls can't do), not to be sent to a convent to learn to be a lady with a view to being married off. Her twin, Thom, doesn't want to be sent to Court to be a knight but wants to learn magic, which is taught at convents. So - since they look almost identical except for the length of their hair - they decide to swap places and only tell their chaperones, who have looked after them growing up. So 'Alan' of Trebond goes to Court to learn to be a knight and work through the trials of being a page, being picked on by bigger boys, and what happens when she has her first bleed, among other things. Alanna grows from 10 years old to 13+ over the course of the book.
Well written and a modern classic. I felt the dénouement was a bit fast but that's a minor detail and it won't stop me re-reading the rest of the series.
4****
Review from August 2021:
{First of 4, Song of the Lioness/ fifth of 18 Tortal Universe chronological order; children's, fantasy, sword and sorcery} (1983)
I first came across this series at around the time the books were being published. Growing up, I had always wanted to be a knight (not really feasible, given my gender. And time period) so they appealed to me. Now that I‘ve collected this first quartet for my own shelves (nostalgia; I spotted a couple of the books when I was raiding Forbidden Planet in London) in the same cover style, it's time to start re-reading it!
Ten year old Alanna of Trebond, red-haired and purple-eyed, is almost identical to her twin, Thom. Their father is about to send them away from Trebond to futures that neither want. Alanna - who is good at martial arts and also has a strong healing Gift - is being sent to learn to be a lady while Thom - who would prefer to learn magic - is going to the palace at the capital, Corus, to learn to be a knight. So, by forging the letters of introduction that their father is supposed to send with them, they decide to swap places which will allow Thom (as himself) to study sorcery.
And so Alanna, pretending to be the younger male twin 'Alan', rides off to adventure to become a page. If she can hold the deception until she is eighteen, she can achieve her long held dream and become the first ever female knight. But first she has to survive the gruelling schedule of being a page; the academic education, training in different forms of fighting and sorcery not to mention still being on her (his) feet to serve at the nightly banquet. And homework. Fortunately, 'Alan' is good at making friends although she's so focussed on working hard to be more competent than the bigger boys and standing up for herself against bullies that she doubts herself and doesn't always feel worthy.
This book covers about three years of Alanna's training; we're given the information about passing time, such as her eleventh naming day, but that is one of the details that felt nebulous to me, somehow. You do root for Alanna to be able to achieve her dream without being discovered and she works hard to earn it. This and the fact that she has her faults - her quick temper, for one - prevents her from being too good to be true although there are hints that the gods of this world have chosen her for some great destiny.
Apparently this quartet was originally written as a single book for adults but Pierce was advised to resubmit it as a series for children. Well, it worked; it's been a resounding success - although I admit to curiousity as to what the original was like. It works as a children's book and I don't remember feeling anything lacking the first time I read it (when I was probably in my teens), but I think that, on this re-reading, I'm not as invested in the characters as I would have been if there had been more detail. I still enjoyed the story although I felt that the magical crisis at the end of this instalment was resolved too easily.
On to the next book (In the Hand of the Goddess)!
August 2021
3.5-4 stars
{first of Song of the Lioness quartet; fantasy, magic, young adult, YA, re-read}
recently acquired this series with fond memories of reading it when I was of an age to want to be a knight and wield magic (still do, just too agéd).
Alanna wants to be a knight (which girls can't do), not to be sent to a convent to learn to be a lady with a view to being married off. Her twin, Thom, doesn't want to be sent to Court to be a knight but wants to learn magic, which is taught at convents. So - since they look almost identical except for the length of their hair - they decide to swap places and only tell their chaperones, who have looked after them growing up. So 'Alan' of Trebond goes to Court to learn to be a knight and work through the trials of being a page, being picked on by bigger boys, and what happens when she has her first bleed, among other things. Alanna grows from 10 years old to 13+ over the course of the book.
Well written and a modern classic. I felt the dénouement was a bit fast but that's a minor detail and it won't stop me re-reading the rest of the series.
4****
Review from August 2021:
{First of 4, Song of the Lioness/ fifth of 18 Tortal Universe chronological order; children's, fantasy, sword and sorcery} (1983)
I first came across this series at around the time the books were being published. Growing up, I had always wanted to be a knight (not really feasible, given my gender. And time period) so they appealed to me. Now that I‘ve collected this first quartet for my own shelves (nostalgia; I spotted a couple of the books when I was raiding Forbidden Planet in London) in the same cover style, it's time to start re-reading it!
Ten year old Alanna of Trebond, red-haired and purple-eyed, is almost identical to her twin, Thom. Their father is about to send them away from Trebond to futures that neither want. Alanna - who is good at martial arts and also has a strong healing Gift - is being sent to learn to be a lady while Thom - who would prefer to learn magic - is going to the palace at the capital, Corus, to learn to be a knight. So, by forging the letters of introduction that their father is supposed to send with them, they decide to swap places which will allow Thom (as himself) to study sorcery.
'D'you think I want to be a lady?' his sister asked. '"Walk slowly, Alanna,"' she said primly. '"Sit still, Alanna. Shoulders back, Alanna." As if that's all I can do with myself!' She paced the floor. 'There has to be another way.'
The boy watched the girl. Thom and Alanna of Trebond were twins, both with red hair and purple eyes. The only difference between them - as far as most people could tell - was the length of their hair. In face and body shape, dressed alike, they would have looked alike.
'Face it,' Thom told Alanna. Tomorrow you leave for the convent, and I go to the palace. That's it.'
'Why do you get all the fun?' she complained. 'I'll have to learn sewing and dancing. You'll study tilting, fencing -'
'D'you think I like that stuff?' he yelled. I hate falling down and whacking at things! You're the one who likes it, not me!'
She grinned. 'You should have been Alanna. They always teach the girls magic -' The thought hit her so suddenly that she gasped. 'Thom. That's it!'
From the look on her face, Thom knew his sister had just come up with yet another crazy idea. 'What's it?' he asked suspiciously.
Alanna looked around and checked the hall for servants. 'Tomorrow he gives us the letters for the man who trains the pages and the people at the convent. You can imitate his writing, so you can do new letters, saying we're twin boys.
'You go to the convent. Say in the letter that you're to be a sorcerer. The Daughters of the Goddess are the ones who train young boys in magic, remember? When you're older, they'll send you to the priests. And I'll go to the palace and learn to be a knight!'
'That's crazy,' Thom argued. 'What about your hair? You can't go swimming naked, either. And you'll turn into a girl - you know, with a chest and everything.'
'I'll cut my hair,' she replied. 'And - well, I'll handle the rest when it happens.'
And so Alanna, pretending to be the younger male twin 'Alan', rides off to adventure to become a page. If she can hold the deception until she is eighteen, she can achieve her long held dream and become the first ever female knight. But first she has to survive the gruelling schedule of being a page; the academic education, training in different forms of fighting and sorcery not to mention still being on her (his) feet to serve at the nightly banquet. And homework. Fortunately, 'Alan' is good at making friends although she's so focussed on working hard to be more competent than the bigger boys and standing up for herself against bullies that she doubts herself and doesn't always feel worthy.
This book covers about three years of Alanna's training; we're given the information about passing time, such as her eleventh naming day, but that is one of the details that felt nebulous to me, somehow. You do root for Alanna to be able to achieve her dream without being discovered and she works hard to earn it. This and the fact that she has her faults - her quick temper, for one - prevents her from being too good to be true although there are hints that the gods of this world have chosen her for some great destiny.
Apparently this quartet was originally written as a single book for adults but Pierce was advised to resubmit it as a series for children. Well, it worked; it's been a resounding success - although I admit to curiousity as to what the original was like. It works as a children's book and I don't remember feeling anything lacking the first time I read it (when I was probably in my teens), but I think that, on this re-reading, I'm not as invested in the characters as I would have been if there had been more detail. I still enjoyed the story although I felt that the magical crisis at the end of this instalment was resolved too easily.
On to the next book (In the Hand of the Goddess)!
August 2021
3.5-4 stars
106Berly
>104 humouress: See you over in the 2025 Group!! I feel you about the life-is-too-busy thing. Sigh. And hugs.
107humouress
>106 Berly: Kim! Good to see you here. Will drop by ... in the New Year. Thanks for the empathy :0)
