34-39

[fiveforsilver]

Originally posted in March of 2007 (multiple posts combined) in fiveforsilver:

34. *New Moon by Stephanie Meyer (564)

I read this at the bookstore yesterday afternoon. The writing was better than in Twilight; the diaologue is quite good. I did think the friendship between Jacob and Bella worked well but then went far too quickly from a renewed friendship to best friends and it was uncomfortable every time she referred to him as that, but other than that, I thought the story progressed nicely.

Overall, and unusually, I thought this second book, New Moon, was better than first.

35. Water: Tales of Elemental Spirits by Robin McKinley and Peter Dickinson (266)

I recently reread The Door in the Hedge and A Knot in the Grain, so I decided to reread McKinley's third anthology as well.

This one is rather hit-and-miss. There are some stories that I liked a lot (Mermaid Song by Dickinson and The Sea-King's Son and A Pool in the Desert by McKinley) and some that I didn't like as much (Sea Serpent and Kraken by Dickinson and Water Horse by McKinley).

36. Heir to the Empire by Timothy Zahn (404)
37. Dark Force Rising by Timothy Zahn (439)
38. The Last Command by Timothy Zahn (467)

I really like these books. I recently re-watched the original Star Wars trilogy (sans additions) and I generally feel like reading these books after I watch those. I think Zahn really captures the feel of the universe and the characters. I need to look into some of his non-SW science fiction, which I've heard is as good or better.

39. *Inkheart by Cornelia Funke (534)

I liked this book a lot. It was a little slow to start and, as I recall, the last quarter or so was the most interesting and exciting part, but the rest of it was good as well. I'm trying to get the sequal, Inkspell, from the library, but it hasn't been available whenever I've tried.

I partially read a book that I'm not counting - I borrowed Melusine by Sarah Monette from the library the other day because nothing I was looking for was available (in transit, processing, checked out, damaged: Thursday was not a good library day for me...), I saw it, and recognized it from some people on LT talking about how much they liked it. I, on the other hand, hated it. I disliked it from the very first page and by page 19, I absolutely hated it. I tried, I swear, I tried to give it a decent go before giving up, I tried at least to get to page 50, but I got stuck somewhere around page 37 and I haven't been able to bring myself to open it again. It went back to the library today, when I got the books listed below.

39 / 85 books (45.88%)
23 / 50 *new books (46.00%)
12580 / 30000 pages (41.93%)

Currently reading:
Helm by Steven Gould

Up next (because they're library books that will have to be returned):
The View From Saturday by E.L. Konigsburg
The Blue Girl by Charles de Lint
Ecstasia by Francesca Lia Block
Expanded Universe by Robert Heinlein