2008 Books
Feb. 26th, 2008 06:13 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
trilliumgrlSo, this year I decided I was going to tell the world what I have been reading. Well, then Life snuck up on me and I kept putting off this post. No more! I am going to tell all you lovely people about the books I have read (so far) in 2008.
The Cassini Division by Ken MacLeod: Sean and I have both read his previous two novels, which are very much political/economic SF. In this one he seems to have a better grip on the story, but I think I like the world slightly less, if only because I see less of the it since much of the story happens in space. A fun read, with a debate at it's core about how humans react to and should deal with that which has evolved beyond them. Recommendation: Start with his first book, The Star Fraction and be ready lots of communism, anarchy, socialism and every other -ism in the book.
Innocent Traitor: A Novel of Lady Jane Grey by Alison Weir: I love Lady Jane Grey. She rates has one of my more favorite monarchs in English history, if only for the tragedy of her 9-day reign. This is first novel by popular historian Allison Weir who nearly has her own shelf in the history section of Half Price books. Frankly I would have read it if I monkey had written it, but Ms. Weir delivered. She gives the story from the perspective of most of the main participants and paints a lovely picture of a girl who was forced to be queen. It didn't matter that I knew how it was going to play out, the getting there was interesting.
Land of Plenty: A Treasury of Sichuan Cooking by Fuchsia Dunlop: I have wanted this book ever since I heard about it listening to NPR one day. Fuchsia Dunlop was the first foreigner to enroll as a regular student in the professional training course at the Sichuan Institute of Higher Cuisine. The book is not only things she learned there, but also recipes she collected from people all over the province. Each recipe has a story and she works very hard to give context to the food - they how and why it is eaten the way it it is, it's place in the meal and the culture. It was a great read, even without me planning what I would like to to make first from it. No time yet, but soon I will put stains on this book as I cook from it.
Proven Guilty and White Night by Jim Butcher: It's Harry Dresden, his sarcasm alone endures me to him. Books 8 and 9 build nicely on what has come before and give interesting hints to the future. I appreciate that Butcher has not abandoned the mystery element of the stories and how Harry continually learns from his previous adventures. While he has not become all-powerful (a la Anita Blake), his adventures has taught him things. Excellent brain candy.
The Cassini Division by Ken MacLeod: Sean and I have both read his previous two novels, which are very much political/economic SF. In this one he seems to have a better grip on the story, but I think I like the world slightly less, if only because I see less of the it since much of the story happens in space. A fun read, with a debate at it's core about how humans react to and should deal with that which has evolved beyond them. Recommendation: Start with his first book, The Star Fraction and be ready lots of communism, anarchy, socialism and every other -ism in the book.
Innocent Traitor: A Novel of Lady Jane Grey by Alison Weir: I love Lady Jane Grey. She rates has one of my more favorite monarchs in English history, if only for the tragedy of her 9-day reign. This is first novel by popular historian Allison Weir who nearly has her own shelf in the history section of Half Price books. Frankly I would have read it if I monkey had written it, but Ms. Weir delivered. She gives the story from the perspective of most of the main participants and paints a lovely picture of a girl who was forced to be queen. It didn't matter that I knew how it was going to play out, the getting there was interesting.
Land of Plenty: A Treasury of Sichuan Cooking by Fuchsia Dunlop: I have wanted this book ever since I heard about it listening to NPR one day. Fuchsia Dunlop was the first foreigner to enroll as a regular student in the professional training course at the Sichuan Institute of Higher Cuisine. The book is not only things she learned there, but also recipes she collected from people all over the province. Each recipe has a story and she works very hard to give context to the food - they how and why it is eaten the way it it is, it's place in the meal and the culture. It was a great read, even without me planning what I would like to to make first from it. No time yet, but soon I will put stains on this book as I cook from it.
Proven Guilty and White Night by Jim Butcher: It's Harry Dresden, his sarcasm alone endures me to him. Books 8 and 9 build nicely on what has come before and give interesting hints to the future. I appreciate that Butcher has not abandoned the mystery element of the stories and how Harry continually learns from his previous adventures. While he has not become all-powerful (a la Anita Blake), his adventures has taught him things. Excellent brain candy.