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| It still feels like this! |
Just a quick update today, my first completed book of February, a new one to start, and one new one that arrived in the mail. Woo hoo!
Completed
"One day Susan Hill was looking for a book, Howard's End to be specific and as she looked through the varied bookshelves in her home (don't I know this feeling) she noticed how many books had not been read, how many books she had. So she came up with a plan. For one year she wouldn't buy any new books (she recognized that she would still get books to review) and she would just read books already on her bookshelves, even if she'd already read a particular book.
And as she goes through this process, we get an inkling into books she loved, authors she cherished and just about life itself. It's a fascinating book. You get a picture of people she had met as she went to college, as an interviewer and in so many other ways. And we get an idea about these people and the books they wrote and the ones that Hill has enjoyed.
She talks about various genres; poetry, travel, Pop-up books, humor and about specific authors. Along the way, she came up with another list. (A woman to my liking as lists are my thing as well). As she wandered through her home, checking out books, she wondered what books, if she could 0nly pick 40, she would read and reread for the rest of her life. The list is provided at the end of the book and it's an eclectic, interesting list. I've read only 3 or 4 myself. I've written the list down just in case I wish to try some of them (NB. I have ordered one in fact, A Time to Keep Silence by Patrick Leigh Fermor. It's made me start wondering what 40 books I'd want to keep of those I've read and enjoyed.
All in all, it's a fascinating book, a book about books and authors by an author who clearly loves reading. Sort of a perfect book for me, even if I'm not an author myself. Oh, besides A Time to Keep Silence, I've also ordered two other books she mentioned A Writer's Diary by Virginia Woolf & A Field of Vision by Charles Causley. I enjoyed this so much. (4.5 stars)"
Currently Reading
"The first-ever graphic novel adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s Pulitzer Prize–winning postapocalyptic classic, The Road, approved and authorized by McCarthy and illustrated by acclaimed cartoonist Manu Larcenet "Superb. A suitably dark graphic treatment of McCarthy’s postapocalyptic masterpiece." (Kirkus) The story of a nameless father and son trying to survive with their humanity intact in a postapocalyptic wasteland where Earth’s natural resources have been diminished, and some survivors are left to raise others for meat, The Road is one of Cormac McCarthy’s bleakest and most prescient novels. Dedicated to his son, John Francis McCarthy, McCarthy’s The Road is one of his most personal novels. Ranked 17th on The Guardian’s 100 Best Novels of the 21st century, it was the recipient of the Pulitzer Prize for literature, and the James Tait Black Memorial Award, the Believer Award, and it was nominated for the National Book Critics Circle Award. This first official graphic novel adaptation of McCarthy’s work is illustrated by acclaimed French cartoonist Manu Larcenet, who ably transforms the world depicted by McCarthy’s spare and brutal prose into stark ink drawings that add an additional layer to this haunting tale of family love and human perseverance. Cormac McCarthy personally approved the making of this book before his death, and the adaptation bears the approval of the McCarthy estate."
New Books
(This one arrived yesterday. I ordered it after reading The Downloaded. (see review here)
"To test his theories of immortality and life after death, Dr. Peter Hobson has created three electronic simulations of his own personality. The first has all knowledge of physical existence edited out, to simulate life after death. The second is without knowledge of aging or death, to simulate immortality. The third is unmodified, a control. Now they are free. One is a killer."
Women Authors Whose Works I've Been Enjoying - Marjorie Liu
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| Marjorie Liu |
"Monstress is a new fantasy novel series for me. At the moment there are 8 volumes (Vol 8 is to come out in Nov 2023) and 47 chapters. Vol 1, Monstress, Vol. 1: Awakening is the first volume of this interesting series by Marjorie M. Liu. It consists of Chapters 1 - 6.
I readily admit that the story is very confusing. It jumps back and forth from the past to the present and it can be difficult to grasp the story.
But this is what I was able to grasp so far. Maika Halfwolf is an Arcanic, a race that had previously lived in 'peace' with the humans. But there was a war and now they are enemies, living in an uneasy peace. Maika has been captured by the humans (or let herself be captured) and is being brought, along with other Arcanics, young children, to the town of Zamora. She and they will be handed to a witch, who it appears eats the Arcanics to gain power.
Maika is more than they can handle and she and a young 'fox' girl escape and are chased back to Arcanic lines. Along the way, a cat, another race, joins them and they must battle their way to safety. (OK, these are the 5 races on this fascinating world, Humans, Ancients, Cats, The Old Gods & Arcanic Half Breeds) Everyone seems to want Maika, as she is 'possessed' by some being... an ancient?)
As I said earlier, it's a very confusing story, but one that you want to continue (me, anyways). It's dark, violent, gritty and filled with action and adventure. And there are many interesting characters who will prove to be brave and draw you in. What is their story? What are their secrets? I've got Vol 2, Blood on order now... Hooked! (4.0 stars)"
"Monstress, Vol. 2: The Blood is the 2nd graphic novel in the Monstress series by Marjorie M. Liu. There are many things to like about this series and some that are not so good.
Maika Halfwolf continues her journey to discover the monster inside her and what it is. (It shows itself when it's hungry by coming through her left shoulder. She wants to learn how to control it or to get rid of it. On her journey are the nekomancer cat, Ren, and the little fox. The journey will take them by sea to the Isles of Bones. There are other story lines as well, plots by various Houses, the Dusk throne, the Dawn throne, the Arcanians; humans, monsters, cats, foxes, tigers... Everybody wants a piece of Maika or what she has.
Yes, it's very confusing and jumps around from the past, the present, to her mother and others. Makes for a confusing story all around which can be frustrating. But the artwork is so excellent and intense and there are some great characters, especially the Little Fox and Ren the cat. There are also neat little tidbits of information about the land and creatures at the end of each chapter, provided by the cat professor Tam Tam. These aspects of the graphics and characters counteract the frustrations about the confusing story. And really, it just makes me want to continue with the series. And I will. Haven is next. (3.5 stars)"
"Monstress, Vol. 3: Haven by Marjorie M. Liu is, of course, the 3rd graphic in the Monstress series. It contains issues 13 - 18 of the comic series. Like the other two, it's a confusing but fantastic, entertaining, well-drawn adventure story. We continue to follow the Half-wolf, Maika and her friends, Kippa, the fox and Renn the cat wizard. As well, Maika must learn to work with the spirit / being that inhabits her, Zenn.
The group have now arrived at the island state of Pontus where they seek refuge from those chasing them. The rulers of Pontus have a 'wall' that keeps out Arcanics and humans, but they need Maika's magic to activate it. Zenn and Maika work to do this, while Kippa tries to find relatives in the refugee city, which is filled with foxes who have fled their for safety. Renn is being blackmailed by other cat 'gods'? who want Kippa for something.
So you've got various ongoing story lines, as well, we jump to those chasing the group, and this is where it gets confusing. There is the threat of war between Arcanics and humans. The different Queens of the wizardy worlds battle each other and also try to unite in their efforts to find Maika, her portion of the 'mask'... Pontus is at threat, the refugees are trying to escape... So much going on but it's all exciting and fast-paced. Beautiful, dramatic artwork and wonderfully drawn characters. I love Kippa and also Rinn, but there is a wonderful variety of peoples and beings.
Oh, yes. Each chapter ends with an excerpt from the lectures of Professor Tam Tam, an elderly cat who tries to explain the world of Monstress. It sometimes helps. 😁 Anyway, it's so fascinating and I can't wait to read #4, The Chosen. (It's on order) (4.0 stars)"
"I readily admit that lots of the time I don't know what is going on in the Monstress graphic novel series by Marjorie M. Liu. It's a wild ride. So many interesting characters, the story moves between them in the blink of an eye. In between chapters, the noted cat professor, Tam Tam, tries to educate us about the Known World and its history and people so that's definitely helped. Monstress, Volume 4: The Chosen continues this excellent, exciting story.
The main characters, Maika Half-Wolf, Kippa the little Fox and Ren, the wizard cat are all separated, each trying to survive the catastrophe of the 3rd book. Maika is now with her father (she doesn't want to be) and the god that is inside her, Zinn, isn't responding. Kippa is a prisoner, sort of, of a group trying to bring her to the Doctor (another name for Maika's daddy) but she escapes ... sort of.. LOL. As Kippa is growing up she seems to be developing her own powers. What are they? Darned if I know... well, not exactly. Ren betrayed Maika and Kippa in the last book but is now trying to redeem himself.
And of course, there are all of the other story lines. Maika's daddy has gathered the great human war lords together and plans to war against the Arcanics, the Dawn & Dusk courts. The Arcanics have joined together with the marriage of the two Queens (or maybe princesses). But even there, you find friction. So that is sort of the gist of this story. Maika trying to deal with her father and still seeing 'visions' of her mother, Moriko Half-Wolf, Kippa trying to get to Maika and what about Ren? Well, that's the wild ride you'll have to follow with this story.
Beautifully drawn and colored by Sana Takeda and wonderfully told by Marjorie Liu, it's a fascinating fantasy story. Every book (this one covers issues 19 - 24) draws you in and keeps you turning pages to see what will happen next. I loved it and can't wait for Vol. 5 - Warchild to see where their journey will take them next. (4.0 stars)"
"The long-dreaded war between the Federation and Arcanics is about to explode. Maika must choose her next steps: will she help her friends, or strike out on her own?
Collects MONSTRESS issues #25-30."
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