2009: The Year in Review

Well, that's a wrap!  2009 was a fantastic reading year for me, especially when compared to 2008 and 2007.  It was also a fantastic blogging year for me.  As you can tell from my right-hand column of archives, I've done a lot more writing on here than ever before.  Than ever before combined, even.

My life overall in 2009 has been up in the air, and I end this year very much at loose ends with regards to my future.  I hope things work out the way I want them to, but it's nice to know that regardless of what happens, I will always have books!  I've also really enjoyed getting to know so many people on the blogosphere this year.  My Google Reader is full of blogs to read and follow that I didn't know existed a year ago, and I've become good friends with so many people that I wonder how I added books to my TBR pile before meeting you all!

Thank you so much for all the friendship, the book recommendations, and the conversations.  I look forward to many more in 2010!

And here, without further ado, is my 2010 Year of Books in Review!  Note:  I try to spread the wealth in these lists!  There are some authors or books that could show up in more than one category but don't due to my wanting to add to all your TBR piles :-)

Best Book Read in 2009

Wish Her Safe at Home, by Stephen Benatar

Honestly, if I could get a copy of this book for everyone who has ever turned the last page of a book, taken a deep breath and thought, "Wow, this author is one bleep of a writer," then I would do so.  I was blown away by this book.  It is written so spectacularly, and you are so deeply inside the protagonist's poor insane head.  I loved this book.

Rosie's Riveters: Velvet & Katie Rose

Note:  Rosie is posting early this week because of the holidays. 

Rosie's Riveters is a weekly posting written by Booklust readers about riveting females in literature. Many readers have strong reactions to the women in the books they read- either very positive or very negative. These are the characters we find riveting, for good reasons or bad ones, and they form the population of Rosie's Riveters. Through this weekly post, we can discuss females we love to hate, or love to love. And maybe, just maybe- we can determine why we react so strongly to them.

I am no longer accepting people to participate in the Rosie's Riveters series.  The participants I currently have on the list will all have their chance to share their favorite or most hated woman, and then we shall start the new With Reverent Hands series on this blog.  More details on With Reverent Hands can be found in my Sunday Salon post here.

This week's post is by Velvet, who blogs at vvb32 reads.  Velvet's blog has a really fun "Steampunk Weekly" feature in which she has pictures of really cool Steampunk-ish inventions.  She also reviews a lot of steampunk on her blog and was the host of the Pemberley Ball this past October.  Velvet is a newer blogger to me, but I'm so glad I have gotten to know her these past months.  Here she is with her Riveter:

Review: Wish

Title:  Wish

Author:  Alexandra Bullen

Publisher:  Scholastic Point, January 2010

This review is based on an Advanced Reader's Copy.  I received this book for free to review.

Plot Summary:

Olivia has just moved to San Francisco with her parents, several months after the accidental death of her twin sister, Violet. She feels uncomfortable at school and doesn't think she'll make friends easily, since Violet was always the social and fun one. But she soon catches the eye of the most popular guy in school and makes friends with the most beautiful girl. And she is gifted three beautiful gowns by a seamstress, Posey, who says that each gown comes with a wish. Olivia immediately wishes for her twin sister's return, and soon she and her ghost-sister are chatting all the time, and Violet is helping Olivia to live her own life and go after what she wants.

I thought Envious Casca would be my last book of the year, but this one managed to slip through, since I needed a little break from the massive Team of Rivals.  I had this one waiting to review, and it was a pretty quick read, so it was the perfect break book.

While reading this, I thought it was the perfect story for a Disney movie. The characters have names like Calla and Soren and Bowie, drive Mini Coopers and Priuses, and chat about the cool new indie bands. It was hard for me to get past those slightly overdone aspects of the story and focus on the plot. While it was an engaging read, this book fell flat for me. Olivia was a nice girl, but I found her to be blah.  She is one of those beautiful girls that is (supposedly) in an awkward stage.  When a boy shows interest in her, she comes into her own (with a little pushing and shoving from her ghost sister).  I understand that that is the way of high school, and it's probably a fairly accurate portrayal, but girls like that just make me sad.  Also, Olivia is in AP English and can use four-syllable words to describe Virginia Woolf's To The Lighthouse, but she apparently doesn't know that the world "molding" has multiple meanings.  I found that a bit hard to believe.

To me, it seemed like things just cleaned up way too quickly, all at the end. I guess that comes with the fairy tale territory, but it seemed a little trite to me, especially considering how much emotional impact the death of a twin sister could have on someone.  Or how the death of a girl could affect parents.  I didn't think things would end quite as sunnily as they did.

The book was entertaining. Also, I greatly appreciated that all the high school characters I came across in it were nice people.  They weren't horrible, they weren't catty or cruel.  They were awkward at times, yes, but that's normal.  Cruelty isn't completely normal in high school, and I found it quite refreshing that the "popular" kids in this book were nice and smart and had real goals.  I think girls in middle school would enjoy Wish, but I would recommend borrowing it from the library, not purchasing it. Though it has a very pretty cover, and I bet the hardcover edition will have lots of glitter on it.

Review: Envious Casca [TSS]

Title:  Envious Casca

Author:  Georgette Heyer

First Published in 1941

Favorite Line:  He was like a clumsy, well-meaning St Bernard puppy, dropped amongst a set of people who were not fond of dogs.

Plot Summary:
A Christmas house party is arranged at a wealthy old bachelor's house against his wishes.  Present are his brother and sister-in-law, his nephew and niece, a playwright, a ditzy beauty, a kind Plain Jane and a business partner.  These personalities collide, however, and the house party is more explosive than congenial.  Then the host is found dead in a locked room, and suddenly, everyone is a suspect.  Inspector Hemingway must sort through the lies and the politics to determine who killed the wealthy host.  And what does The Life of the Empress Catherine have to do with everything?

When I am not sure what I want to read next, I always turn to Georgette Heyer because I know I'll settle in quite easily with her books.  I never feel restless reading her.  I know I'm always in for a good story.  And as this one takes place during Christmas, it seemed the ideal time to sit down with it!

I read almost all Heyer's historicals (though for some reason, I just can't bring myself to read Cousin Kate or any of the older-than-Georgian era ones) when I was in high school and early in college, all in a big blitz.  But I've collected her mysteries more slowly over time, and I've really enjoyed taking my time getting through them.  Heyer wrote some historical mysteries, but most are set in the England contemporary for her time- usually between WWI and WWII.  And, as Heyer was nothing if not a product of her time, they tend to have a great many subtle hints about the class system, money and Modern Times.  Much as I love Heyer's work, I know deep down that she was probably a fairly haughty woman who believed in a class system.  I also know that she looked down on fans of her work.  Oh, well!

Review: Nyphron Rising

Title:  Nyphron Rising

Author:  Michael J. Sullivan

Published by Ridan Publishing, 2009

This is the third book in the Riyria Revelations.  See my reviews of books one and two.

I received this book for free to review.

Plot Summary:

As this is the third book in a six book fantasy series, I am not going to do much in the way of plot summary.  Let's just say that the two main characters are on the move with a royal princess, and the other side is consolidating power.  Sorry, but I don't want to give away any spoilers!

Nyphron Rising is, of the three books I've read so far in this series, my least favorite.  That's not to say I didn't like it.  I did really enjoy it, but now I hold Michael Sullivan up to a high standard.  And I don't think this book was quite as strong as his previous efforts.  This is more a result of the book being in the middle of the series than anything else.  Stuff happens, yes, but it takes some time to get there and then at the end, there is a great deal still left unfinished.  New characters are still being introduced, but you don't get closure on the previous ones.  In my opinion, you can't read and fully understand/appreciate this book without reading the two before it.  So don't read out of order!  And besides, if you miss the first book in this series, you'd miss Myron, and that's really just unacceptable.

A Street of Books

I saw this NPR link on Shelf Awareness and needed to click through.  It's a fascinating story about an annual event in Buenos Aires, Argentina.  One of the busiest streets shuts down for six hours, couches are brought out, and people sit around chatting and reading books.  It's a really great story, and I hope you have time to listen to it!  It's about four minutes long.

Rosie's Riveters: Claire & Fevvers

Note:  Rosie is posting early this week because of the holidays.


Rosie's Riveters is a weekly posting written by Booklust readers about riveting females in literature. Many readers have strong reactions to the women in the books they read- either very positive or very negative. These are the characters we find riveting, for good reasons or bad ones, and they form the population of Rosie's Riveters. Through this weekly post, we can discuss females we love to hate, or love to love. And maybe, just maybe- we can determine why we react so strongly to them.

I am no longer accepting people to participate in the Rosie's Riveters series.  The participants I currently have on the list will all have their chance to share their favorite or most hated woman, and then we shall start the new With Reverent Hands series on this blog.  More details on With Reverent Hands can be found in my Sunday Salon post here.

This week's post is by the amazing Claire who blogs at Paperback Reader.  Claire reads a very interesting variety of books- from classics to literary fiction to historical novels to short and fascinating-sounding novellas.  I really enjoy her blog because she writes very thoughtful and thorough reviews.  If I were an author, I'd want her to review my book.  Here she is, describing a character in a book that is now on my wish list.

Who is your Riveter? 

Fevvers, christened Sophie.
 

What book does she feature in? 

Nights at the Circus by Angela Carter
 

Do you love her or hate her? 

LOVE her!
 

Describe her personality- how would you describe her to a friend?  

Feisty, sensational, outrageous, revolutionary, personable, unforgettable, unbelievable.
 

Can you compare her to a celebrity?  

No, Fevvers is a celebrity in her own right; she is a celebrated winged aerialiste at the turn of the nineteenth century and leading attraction at a circus.
 

What makes her riveting? 

Hatched from an egg, Fevvers sprouted wings when she was menstruating.  She is Cockney, larger-than-life literally at over six feet in her stocking-feet and peroxide blonde; she is a virgin raised in a brothel and is the strongest female protagonist in literary fiction.

What do you most admire/despise about her? 

She is one of the greatest feminist literary constructs of all time and also a construct of her own imagination.  A "Cockney Venus" in Victorian London, Fevvers is a wonderful heroine.
 

Would you recommend reading the book in which the Riveter features?  

Absolutely! Angela Carter is an amazing writer and Nights at the Circus is my favourite of her books; her writing is superb and Fevvers is a riveting realisation.
 

Do you have a quote by or about your Riveter that you'd like to share? 

At the dawn of a new century Fevvers looks to the day where "All the women will have wings, the same as I".

Book Blogger Holiday Swap: Santa Revealed!

This Saturday, I received my Book Blogger Holiday Swap Secret Santa gift!  I was so excited!  It was a really ugly, nasty, rainy day here in Chicago as I sat sadly at my table, editing business school application essays for the umpteenth time.  Then my brother came in and told me I got a package!  It was soaking wet and the box was not in the best condition, so I was scared of how it would be inside.  But the inside was great!

In the midst of really colorful and lovely wrapping, I found the following:

A really sweet card, an excellent canvas book bag from The Strand bookstore in New York City (great for used bookstores and the farmers' market!), a really cute alien/bug bookmark made of metal, a yummy Ghirardelli dark chocolate square, a copy of The Hakawati, by Rabih Alameddine, a super-cute polka dot (I LOVE polka dots!) scarf and a fabulous Shakespeare mug of quotes in all different fonts and colors.  It's a FABULOUS gift and I'm so thrilled to have it.  I remember reading about The Hakawati when it first came out, and I'm thrilled to have a really interesting and vivid new telling of The Arabian Nights in my collection.  Also, I've been a Strand bookstore newsletter subscriber forever (even though I've never actually been to the bookstore).

So, THANK YOU to J.S. Peyton of BiblioAddict fame.  You rock my world, and I am now a subscriber to your blog :-)  I'm so excited to drink hot chocolate in my mug, wear my cool new silky scarf, read my book while holding my place with my fun bookmark, and then buying new books with my canvas bag.  You were so generous, and I am very grateful.  Happy holidays!

Also, since I had my camera out, I thought I'd just take a picture of my bookshelves to share with you all.  The first two rows of books are color coded in rainbow pattern, though you can't really tell with all the other stuff there.  The third row is "neutrals."  The bottom row is a free for all.  And yes, that is a Tickle-Me Elmo at the top.  My sister's, not mine!

Sunday Salon: How Fast Do You Read?

I read this article in The Guardian this week about the speed at which some people read, and whether it is possible to absorb great literature when speed reading.  The editorial says that if an author (Flaubert for Madame Bovary is the example that springs immediately to my mind) agonized and tore his hair out while writing to ensure that he chose just the exact right word, then shouldn't we as readers give him the courtesy of spending time reading the words he chose instead of rushing over them?

There are many bloggers who read over 100 books a year.  There are challenges set up for reading over 100 books, or to read books by 50 new to you authors, or read at least 50 books from your library.  I can't participate in those because I don't read quickly enough.  I am probably one of the slowest-reading bloggers I know, as I never have difficulty keeping up with my reviews; I only read one or two books a week, so it's easy to review all of them.

That said, I don't know how you fast readers do it!  I often feel the pressure to read faster, do more, keep current with everyone else.  I read for pleasure, yes, but at the same time, I feel like more recently as I read, I wonder how soon I can finish a book and move on to the next one.  If it takes me longer than I expect to read a book, I start getting worried.

And that makes me sad.  I don't skim books, but I wonder if I am missing nuances and important ideas. For example, in The Blade Itself, by Joe Abercrombie, the beginning of the book mentions Shanka and flatheads, both of whom are enemies of one of the characters who is escaping a massive battle scene.  First, I thought the Shanka and the flatheads were the same thing.  Then I wondered if maybe the Shanka were people and flatheads were  some sort of weird biting animal- what I was reading and comprehending just didn't make sense with what I was reading.  I went back once and skimmed the section again to see if I could figure it out.  Still didn't really get it.  So then I just kept reading, hoping, as I often do, that I'd just get a spark of "Oh, now I know!" later on in the story.

Why did I do that?  Why didn't I keep reading until I figured out the difference (or lack thereof) between the Shanka and the flatheads?  I just gave up.  Is it because I was worried of spending too much time on one aspect of the book?  I don't know, but the possibility of that being the reason has my mind.

And why am I often so scared of picking up a really long book?  I am intimidated by big books often, not only because they're hard to carry around with me but because it takes so long to read them.  But why does that even matter to me?  If I just ignore the longer books on my shelf (and there are many), then what am I really saying?  That I appreciate authors making the effort towards writing and publishing a staggering work of writing with complex characters and plots, but... I don't want to read it if it takes too much time on my part?  If I had been like that in high school, I'd never have read one of my favorite classics, The Count of Monte Cristo.  How many other really long, amazing books am I missing because of my propensity to shy away from the door-stoppers?

I don't know if I'm the only one with these habits, but they bother me.  I don't like stressing out about my reading, or about the speed of my reading, or worrying about how soon I can read and review a book so that I can start the next one that's staring down at me from the shelf.  Reading is still fun for me, but it just has so many new aspects to it that didn't exist before.  I am not so naive as to say those will go away if I want them to, but I do want to bring back more of the magic.

I hope that in 2010, I feel comfortable slowing down, really savoring the books that I'm reading (if they're worth savoring).  I have taken steps to do this.  I am starting a read-along partnering with one of my friends in St. Paul, MN in which we pick a classic to read together over several weeks and discuss it together over email as we go along.  Our first book is Nikolai Gogol's Dead Souls.  I am doing the same thing with Zibilee for the book The Bone People, another book that really intimidates me (and I hope to do more with her since she's awesome).

I want to challenge myself with my reading- read more books off my shelves, read more books out of my normal genres, and read more classics and non-fiction- but I also want to bring back that connection to the book, to the author's words, and to my experience of those words.  I've been neglecting that part.  I just want to stop rushing and enjoy myself.

What about you?  Do you have a similar problem, or do you like the pace at which you read?

Review: Avempartha

Title:  Avempartha

Author:  Michael J. Sullivan

Published by:  Ridan Books

This is Book 2 of the Riyria Revelations.  See my review of Book 1 here and Book 3 here.

I received this book for free to review.

Plot Summary:

Avempartha picks up two years after The Crown Conspiracy ends and readers once again travel with Royce and Hadrian.  This time, it's off to a tiny village situated close to a massive waterfall and Elvish tower (called, as you might guess, Avempartha) where they have agreed to help a girl's father defeat a massive flying demon that is attacking the village.  There they meet some old friends and make some new ones and learn a great deal more about the history of their world and what may be coming to pass soon.

It is very difficult to write a plot summary for a book that is in the middle of a series, and even harder to then review the book without giving away spoilers.  So I'll try to keep this general and simple.

In my review of The Crown Conspiracy, I mentioned that this series uses modern language, which I find a bit odd in a fantasy novel.  I then felt bad as it seemed like most people focused on the language instead of my comments on how much I enjoyed the book.  Here, it's the same.  Yes, there is modern language, but now I am used to it and it did not detract from the story.  There are elves and dwarves and wizards in this book and each race has its own language, much like in The Lord of the Rings.  So making comparisons is pretty easy.  But I think if you read this book, you'll get over the language pretty quickly and focus on the story.

The author, Michael Sullivan, states that each book can be read on its own without needing any of the other books to understand it, but I am not sure how that could possibly be the case going forward.  This book ends with the book's plotline cleared, true, but also with a lot of other plots wide open.  I don't see how anyone could read it and not think that there was a sequel to be written.  And going forward in the coming books, I imagine that will be more and more the case.  But I'm willing to go along for the ride.

I can't even say what about this book I enjoyed so much, but I was completely absorbed by it.  When I describe the plot above, it seems straightforward.  And I guess it is.  But it's told in a very compelling way.  It's so refreshing to read a fantasy novel without all the gloom-and-doom, that takes time for humor.  This series of books does just that.  It has easy-to-like characters, satisfying "in-book" plots, and a compelling over-reaching plot.  There is also a good amount of information provided and hinted at to the reader about the world's past.  I love that in epic fantasy.  I like an author who writes out his world's entire history and mythology before writing his books, so that the reader can become steeped in the world.

One scene that made me slightly roll my eyes was near the beginning, when one female character was being more dramatic, in my opinion, than necessary.  Another small quibble I had was the level of insight some characters would have into other people that they didn't know very well.  It was almost like someone would say, "Hello, my name is Joe," and the character being spoken to would say, "I know you want to ask me about my knowledge of your long-lost second cousin once removed, so go to it."  I exaggerate, but it seemed to happen a couple of times to move the plot in a slightly forced way. 

If you don't read much epic fantasy but want to give the genre a try, I think this would be a great series to start with because of the language and the humor.  While I thoroughly enjoyed The Blade Itself, I'd say that's not the sort of book to start for a foray into fantasy.  This series is.  It's fun, the books aren't obscenely long, and supposedly the entire series (though we have been promised this before!) is written and ready to be published.  Often with epic fantasy, the problem is the years of waiting between books in a series (see Scott Lynch or George R. R. Martin).  These books won't have that problem.

This series has really inspired me to look more closely into small press publishers, too; there are so many books out there that don't have the marketing pull to get a wide audience, but that really, really deserve the attention.  This is one of those books.  If you enjoy fantasy, you'll probably enjoy this series.  I highly recommend checking it out.  The third book is already out, and the fourth should be available in April.  The fifth is scheduled to be released before the end of 2010 and the last installment early in 2011.

Also, there will be more on the small press front from me and a few others in 2010!  Be on the lookout :-)

Review: The Blade Itself

Title:  The Blade Itself

Author:  Joe Abercrombie

Publisher:  Pyr, 2007

This is the first book in The First Law trilogy.  See my reviews of books two and three.

Plot Summary:
The Union has existed as the major power in the world for centuries, made safe by the First of the Magi, Bayaz.  Now the Union is threatened by barbarians from the north and a newly consolidated power in the south and Bayaz is back.  This time, he is accompanied by his apprentine, Malacus Quai and a northman, Logen Ninefingers. 

But there are all sorts of intrigues already occurring in Adua, the Union's capital, and Bayaz is not always welcome.  Glokta, the chief inquisitor and torturer, is at work trying to unearth corruption.  Major West seems to be the only one properly preparing for war with the north.  Jezal dan Luthar wants to win the Contest to impress a lady and gain fame and glory.  And then there is the mysterious Ferro from the south who can't see colors and seems not to feel any pain.  They all meet in Adua, and set course on a mission that no one seems to understand except, perhaps, Bayaz.

I borrowed this book from my friend Sudha recently because I was intrigued by one of the female characters; my friend chose to spotlight Ardee West from this trilogy in her Rosie's Riveters post.  She warned me that it was full of violence and that it was very, very dark.  She was not exaggerating.  My goodness.  It seems like there is a pitched battle sequence or knife fight in this book every five pages or so.  There is a lot of blood.  I don't know just how violent and bloody those passages were because, I admit, I skimmed most of the fights.  I must confess that I do this in all fantasy novels.  I just don't really care about fight scenes.  I can't visualize them, I don't want to visualize them, and I feel as long as I know who is alive and who is dead by the end of them, I'm not missing too much.  Battle sequences are not my motivation for reading fantasy novels at all.

This led to me skimming more of this book than I'd like, but I still think I got the gist of it.  Thank goodness this is the first book in the series because when I finished it, I felt thoroughly out of my depths.  Sudha mentioned to me that she was annoyed that this series does not come with a map; I agree with her.  I am one of those people who couldn't find her way out of a paper bag, so hearing about Northmen and southerners and people on what may have been an island... I had absolutely no sense of the distance of things, and I think a map would have helped with that.  As to my general confusion as to what was happening, I like to think I am in good company in that.  Most of the characters, from what I could tell, were just as lost as I was.  I assume there will be a gradual lifting of the fog as the series continues so that I can say "Oh, now I get it!"

Since I didn't quite know everything happening with the plot, it really was the characters that made this book for me.  I have a soft spot for a certain nine-fingered barbarian and his kind-hearted commoner-who-rose-to-fame-in-the-military-by-determination-and-hard-work counterpart.  Even the characters I didn't like, though, were drawn so well.  Jezal, for example, is an upper-class brat who thinks the world should be handed to him on a platter.  And when you see the world through his eyes, you can see that he truly does believe that.  He doesn't think he's being a snob or a complete jerk; he just truly believes that he is better than everyone else.  It is fascinating to see, and I think Abercrombie does very well with the inner voices of his characters.

The character who really won me over was Glokta, the former hero turned government torturer.  He is such a complex character and I was so absorbed by him.  He tortures people for a living, but his every movement is pure torture for him.  He growls at people and taunts them, but when someone shows him true kindness or friendship, he is so sincerely moved and grateful for that contact that it almost makes me cry.  I am both repelled by and utterly drawn towards him.

I guess I would say that The First Law trilogy is probably a "man's" fantasy, full as it is of battles and violence and a plethora of male characters (and only two major females through book one).  It also has fully-realized characters, a setting with a deep history and a plot that promises to become majestic as the series continues.  I would definitely recommend it to the epic fantasy fans out there, with the caveat that there is a lot of violence in it.

I read this book as part of Galleysmith's Seriespalooza week.

Guest Posting on Lost in Books

I am guest posting on Lost in Books today, answering 20 questions.  The answers are a little old for some, but most are true.  Pop on over there if you have a chance.

Rosie's Riveters: Mark W & Jaelle

Rosie's Riveters is a weekly posting written by Booklust readers about riveting females in literature. Many readers have strong reactions to the women in the books they read- either very positive or very negative. These are the characters we find riveting, for good reasons or bad ones, and they form the population of Rosie's Riveters. Through this weekly post, we can discuss females we love to hate, or love to love. And maybe, just maybe- we can determine why we react so strongly to them.

I am no longer accepting people to participate in the Rosie's Riveters series.  The participants I currently have on the list will all have their chance to share their favorite or most hated woman, and then we shall start the new With Reverent Hands series on this blog.  More details on With Reverent Hands can be found in my Sunday Salon post here.

This week's poster is Mark W, who blogs at Cinders in Spain.  Mark always leaves very insightful and thoughtful comments on the blogs he reads, and he's one of those people that you know spends a great deal of time and effort on the blogs he follows.  That is greatly appreciated and his thoughtfulness comes through in his own blog, where he reviews books, yes, but also veers off into movies, chess games and all sorts of other information.

 

Who is your Riveter?

Jaelle.

Which books does she feature in?

The Fionavar Tapestry, by Guy Gavriel Kay, comprising The Summer Tree, The Wandering Fire and The Darkest Road.

Do you love her or hate her?

I definitely love her – though at least partly, because it’s not obvious that I (we) should (see below), and it took me a while...

Describe her personality- how would you describe her to a friend?

When it comes to Jaelle, this is one of the hardest of the standard questions, which is one of the reasons I love her.  To have a stab at it, she’s extremely intelligent, and also extremely clever: these two attributes don’t necessarily mean the same thing (and they don’t necessarily make someone lovable (see above), although they do contribute to making someone “riveting” (see above, and, below,– hopefully!)).  Part of that intelligence, though, is the realization her own pre-existing (however justified) views aren’t necessarily the be all and end all of the world, and that others can teach her things...

Can you compare her to a celebrity?

Arrgh.  I very rarely watch TV or films (except well behind the times when catching up on DVD boxsets), so I’m rather at a loss here.  Whenever I think of “red hair and intelligence” I tend to think of Julianne Moore, who I admire hugely as an actress, but who doesn’t really fit, in the tail-end of 2009, Jaelle on (arrgh – my god, it pains me massively to say this) age grounds (only because part of what makes Jaelle so riveting is the fact that she’s so very young...)  A slightly younger Julianne Moore, then...

What makes her riveting?

She’s human.  Her fury in Chapter 5 of The Summer Tree is justified, and yet she (possibly) acquiesces in the (possibly) patronizing way Diarmuid employs to diffuse the situation.   Later, after Paul’s sacrifice on The Summer Tree, Jaelle tells Paul that, “There is mercy in the Goddess sometimes, but not gentleness.”  And yet later, she will witness things that make her question and ultimately reject such certainties…

 

What do you most admire/despise about her?

What I’ve (hopefully) alluded to above.  Jaelle, as a very young, very intelligent, very clever young woman in a patriarchical world, is yet clever enough, in the face of impending apocalypse, to modify her stance, and her actions, while yet remaining true to herself.  The scene in The Wandering Fire when Paul has entered the water while Jaelle watches, is perhaps the best example: her final two words (I think – I’ve lent the book out), “Weaver forfend,” are perhaps two of the most blub-making words in the entire trilogy...

Would you recommend reading the books in which the Riveter features?

Good heavens, yes.  Apart from the very skilful way Paul and Jaelle’s relationship is covered in the first two books, only a maniac would surely not want to see how things turn out in Volume 3???

Do you have a quote by or about your Riveter that you'd like to share?

I’ve covered them above, more or less, without getting too spoilery, I think.  I’m reluctant to say any more – anyone who hasn’t read the books should see for themselves how what they may initially think is a clichéd “ice queen”, is, in fact, nothing of the sort, but, rather, one of the finest, most admirable, and most interesting, female characters in fiction...

Review: Fun Home

Title:  Fun Home - A Family Tragicomic

Author:  Alison Bechdel

Publisher:  Mariner Books, 2006

Plot Summary:
Alison Bechdel grew up in a small Pennsylvania town, where her father worked part-time at the family funeral home business.  Her parents had married in Germany, but by the time Alison is old enough to understand family dynamics, she realizes that her family members isolate themselves from each other, that they don't interact the way other families do.  Her parents fight a lot, when they actually talk to each other.  Her father loves gardening and decorating, and her mother acts in local productions and is working on a huge thesis statement.  When Alison goes to college and realizes she's a lesbian, she comes out to her parents and only after that does she realize that her father also is gay.  This graphic novel is Bechdel's attempt to reconcile her childhood memories with her new knowledge of her father and their relationship.

My first graphic novel experience was a prequel to George R. R. Martin's Song of Ice and Fire series.  I still have it on my shelf.  I didn't much like it, and I never tried to read another graphic novel.  The closest I ever got was The Invention of Hugo Cabret, which is a YA novel that has a lot of important pictures in it.  But Nymeth reviews graphic novels quite often on her blog, and they always look so pretty.  And it just seems like a really interesting and novel approach to telling a story.  So with a little nudging from Nymeth and some help from a co-worker, I decided to try another.  My co-worker lent me Fun Home last week, saying that if one wants to really give graphic novels a chance, it's better to start with the memoirs than the fantasy ones.  And, as I enjoyed Fun Home, I'd have to agree with her.

I don't really know how to review a graphic novel.  Focus on the words?  On the pictures?  I don't have much to say about the pictures.  They add to the story, yes, and I enjoyed looking at them, but I can't say much about how Bechdel's artistry compares to other graphic novelists.  When I first started reading, I'd look at the panels for some time before reading the associated text.  But as I got further into the story, I switched- read the text first and then looked at the pictures.  I'm not sure which way is better, or if there is a right or wrong way.  I did feel as though it required much more concentration on my part to read this graphic novel than if I were just reading a book with only text, because I kept feeling like I'd miss something in the pictures if I didn't look closely enough.  Hopefully I didn't!

What I liked most about this book was the author's way of referring to so many other books.  Bechdel obviously knows her classics, and I loved the way she set up parallels between her life and the works of Collette, James Joyce, Oscar Wilde and Odysseus.  It was done so well, and while this book put off my reading of Joyce's Ulysses indefinitely, I really enjoyed all the allusions to so many books.

I also thought that Alison's portrayal of her parents was done well.  Both of them develop into very strong characters in the novel, and it's obvious that their lives took a turn they didn't expect when they moved back to Pennsylvania and had a family.  I often wonder what my parents would have done with their lives if they didn't have children.  I think they would have spent a lot more time jet-setting around the world.  It's always a jarring moment, I think, when children realize that their parents could have led very different lives if their kids just hadn't shown up.

In contrast, I don't think Alison developed the characters of her brothers much at all.  I don't know if this was done on purpose, but I assume it was.  But I found it really sad, considering how close my relationship with my siblings is.

I think Fun House was a really good introduction to graphic novels for me.  I don't think I fell in love with the genre through it, but I'm definitely willing to try out some more.  I'm glad I tried this one, and if anyone else hasn't really tried graphic novels and wants to give them a try, I think this is a good first foray into them.

Sunday Salon: The End of Rosie's Riveters and the Start of Something New

I started the Rosie the Riveter series some months ago to highlight females who grab our attention- who create an emotional response within us.  By the time the Riveter series ends, we'll have learned about almost thirty women in history or in literature whom we find riveting.  It's been a wonderful series, and I know I always look forward to posting and discussing the women and the books in which they feature on Thursdays.

However, there hasn't been as much interest in participating in the Riveter series lately, and I think people are intimidated by the subject- how can they find a woman worthy of Rosie the Riveter status?  It's difficult to do!  Also, now that the Women Unbound Challenge is underway, there are reviews all over blogosphere that focus on important and amazing and horrible and insane women.  So I think Rosie has done her job!  And it's onto something new.  Therefore, I am no longer taking any more requests to participate in Rosie's Riveters than I already have- everyone who has already signed up for it and has not gone yet, you will get your turn :-)  After everyone has had their turn, Thursdays on BookLust will now feature a new regular series! 

With all the troubles the book industry faces, and disappearing book reviews in newspapers and magazines across the world, I just really want to use this blog to highlight important and fantastic books that slip under the radar.  Granted, I have no idea how many people actually read my blog, so the impact is completely minimal, but every little bit helps, right?  And if you find a book here that really hits you, that you never would have come across otherwise, and that you then become an evangelist for, well that would be pretty great.  And that is what the new Thursday segment is all about!

Is there a book you gush about to people, and they've never heard of it, and you are aghast that it isn't more well-known?  Is there a book you adore so much that you are heart-broken that it is now out-of-print?  Is there a book you always look for on the shelf of a used bookstore or a library, and then breathe a contented sigh of relief when you see it?  A book that you see and touch and handle with reverence? 
W.B. Yeats, in his poem "A Poet to His Beloved," wrote:

I bring you with reverent hands / the books of my numberless dreams.

And that quote inspired the name of this new guest post series, With Reverent Hands!  Let's give some attention to those wonderful books that sit unjustly gathering dust on the shelf because no one knows how fabulous they are.  The ones that keep you up at night, or make you shiver with delight.  The ones that you love so much you want everyone else in the world to read them, too, even though they may be hard to find or a little obscure.  The ones that are worth the effort. 

So, start thinking about your favorite book that no one's ever heard of, or the one that people are too intimidated to read because it's so long or too ancient or has an odd cover- any book, really, that you believe has been overlooked.  And get ready, in about two months, for With Reverent Hands.  Note- this segment is about books that should perhaps be considered classics, but aren't.  Thus, it won't be spotlighting Jane Austen, as all her books are very well-known.  But it could feature a lesser-known work by, say, Charles Dickens that everyone passes by, to their own detriment.  Or maybe you think everyone reads Neil Gaiman when they should really be reading Gillian Bradshaw.  Whatever book you find worthy, let the world (or, well, the five people who read this blog) know!

And once again- if anyone has button-making skills and can make one in the next couple of months for With Reverent Hands- I'd be extremely grateful!

Updated:  In a couple of weeks leading up to the start of With Reverent Hands, I'll ask people to sign up to participate.  Thanks for all the interest already- so great to see :-)

PS:  This week I'm participating in Seriespalooza, hosted by Galleysmith.  So this week's reviews (after Fun House, which I am finishing up) will all be of books in a series, and most probably, due to the trilogy or never-ending series bug that hits so many authors in the genre, all fantasy.  Sorry about that!

Review: Escapade

Title:  Escapade 

Author:  Walter Satterthwait 

First Published:  1995 by St. Martin's Press 

Favorite Line:  Mrs. Allardyce was built like a blacksmith, but without the daintiness.

Plot Summary:

Phil Beaumont is a Pinkerton detective assigned to the magician Harry Houdini to keep him safe from a rival magician known as Chin Soo.  Houdini and Beaumont go to a house party hosted by Lord and Lady Purleigh at their country home in Devon, where they've invited an eclectic assortment of relations, Austrian psychoanalysts, friends and the illustrious author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.  A lady's companion, the bright and sassy Miss Jane Turner, is advanced upon in her bedroom by a lewd old ghosts.  Two other ghosts are seen under a willow tree.  A poacher shoots at a group of people, small items are misplaced, a boxing match is scheduled for dawn and Lord Purleigh's father is found dead by bullet wound in a locked room.  Who did it?  And why?  And how?  And whatever happened to Chin Soo?

This book was an absolute delight to read.  I looked for some time for a blog reviewing it, but couldn't find one.  This is vastly unfortunate because I hope more people read this book.  It takes place between the two world wars and you can almost see the characters in film noir- all the bombshell women with their long while gloves and cigarette holders, all the men with their suits and their deadpan sense of sarcastic humor.  The characters are all so well-written!  Each one has his or her own voice and personality.  While I really liked both Jane Turner and Phil Beaumont, I think Cecily Fitzwilliam (Lord Purleigh's daughter) had the best lines.  (Example:  "I am not a nymphomaniac!")  But Harry Houdini steals the show.  He is so cocky, so utterly sure of himself and his self-worth.  I don't know if that is what Houdini really was like in personality, but now I will never see him in any other way.

This is very much a traditional English country home murder, where there are a certain number of people at a house party when a murder is committed, so the suspects are limited.  It also includes all the fun class system divides that are vital to that genre, and all the bedroom-hopping and misconceptions that can occur between people.  The mystery is engaging (though, for me, the ending was quite a surprise), but it never bogs down the fun aspects of the story.  The conversations are always light and entertaining; both Beaumont & Turner's internal dialogues and the conversations that occur between people in the story.  Satterthwait's humor reminded me of Terry Pratchett's in some ways, and also of Georgette Heyer's.  Spot on.

I expected Sir Arthur Conan Doyle to be more present in the story than he was, but I suppose with two such huge personalities as Houdini and Doyle in the same place, one must take precedence.  And as I adored Harry Houdini in this book, I'm very content with Satterthwait's decision to make it the magician.

This book has been sitting on my shelf for years.  I don't even remember who first recommended it to me, but when I read The King's English earlier this year, the author mentioned Satterthwait and it jogged my memory that I had one of his books.  So I picked it up on my last perusal of the shelves, and I'm so glad I did!  It wasn't an overly deep or complicated book.  It was fun and entertaining and I wish I could share more quotes with you, but I don't know how to share just one line of entire conversations that had me in giggles.

I am so thrilled that there are two sequels to Escapade, called Masquerade and Cavalcade.  I ordered Masquerade for myself last night, and I thoroughly look forward to the ongoing adventures of Beaumont & Turner.  So glad I discovered Satterthwait, and if anyone has read anything else by him that they recommend, please let me know.  His books are now on my list of ones to grab if seen in a used bookstore.

Updated:  I can't believe I forgot to mention the hilarious Scotland Yard inspector who quotes obscure (well, obscure to me) Shakespeare passages in completely awkward and incorrect contexts.  He wasn't in the book as long as Houdini was, but he had an absolutely fantastic cameo appearance.

Rosie's Riveters: Rachel & Anne Elliot

Rosie's Riveters is a weekly posting written by Booklust readers about riveting females in literature. Many readers have strong reactions to the women in the books they read- either very positive or very negative. These are the characters we find riveting, for good reasons or bad ones, and they form the population of Rosie's Riveters. Through this weekly post, we can discuss females we love to hate, or love to love. And maybe, just maybe- we can determine why we react so strongly to them.

If you are interested in participating, please comment on this post, e-mail me, or just fill out the template below and send it to me. I am always looking for more participants!

This week's poster is Rachel, from Book Snob.  Rachel is a newish blogger who writes fantastically detailed reviews; you can tell she puts a lot of thought into her reviews and always wonders what the book meant to her.  I really enjoy her blog, and she rose even more in my esteem when I saw who her chosen riveter is.  Persuasion is very, very high on my list of books to reread for the Flashback Challenge next year!

Who is your riveter?

 Anne Elliot

What book does she feature in?

Persuasion by Jane Austen

Review: Red Seas Under Red Skies

Title:  Red Seas Under Red Skies

Author:  Scott Lynch

First Published:  2007

This is the second book in the seven-book Gentlemen Bastards Series.

Plot Summary:

Locke Lamora and Jean Tannen are back at it again, this time taking their considerable skills at gambling, thieving and swindling to Tal Verrar.  Tal Verrar is home of the Sinspire, a huge and exclusive casino that holds a great deal of wealth in its vault.  Unfortunately, there are some in Tal Verrar who have other ideas on how to utilize the skills of the Gentlemen Bastards.  Jean and Locke are, for the first time, forced to accede to other people's agendas and even become pirates.  But they never lose sight of their original goal.

My gosh, it's a lesson in masochism to try to write plot summaries for some books!  This is one of those books that teaches that lesson.  I learned another important lesson from Red Seas Under Red Skies.  I really, really don't enjoy nautical adventure stories.  At all.

Unfortunately, I would say at least half of this novel takes place on the high seas.  I imagine Scott Lynch did a lot of research on pirates and ships and seas before writing this book; he then suffered from what so many authors seem to suffer from- feeling the need to include every bit of that research somehow in his book.  I felt like I needed a thesaurus for quite a bit of the boat sections.  Eventually, I just started skimming any conversation that had a lot of "ship terms" in it.  I also skimmed most of the fight scenes.  This, er, led to me skimming a significant portion of the book.

Scott Lynch writes "action fantasy."  It's historical, but more Wild West than medieval Europe.  It's not steampunk.  It's a very cool sub-genre, and I haven't read anything else quite like it.  I thoroughly enjoyed The Lies of Locke Lamora for that reason- it was fresh.  And I feel that I would have enjoyed this book a lot more, too, if more of it had taken place on land.  But, alas, it was all at sea.

I appreciated the character development in this book, as we got to know the sidekick much better and more deeply than we ever did before.  And the friendship that exists between Locke and Jean is so deep and wonderful to read about.  But at the same time, we learn frustratingly little about anything else.  Lynch has planned a seven-book series, though I don't know when any of the other books are coming out.  But at the end of book 2, I still have absolutely no idea what the real plot of this series is.  I have a vague inkling, but I'm sure I'll have forgotten all about it by the time the third book comes out.  We learn nothing more about the mysterious woman from Locke's past, about the Bondsmagi that seem out to get Locke, or about what might happen next.  I am sure that Lynch has an idea in his mind, but I wish he'd be a little more generous with his readers.

What it seems Lynch spends the majority of his time writing is one-liners.  This book is littered with all sorts of colorful and demeaning insults and swears, abundant wordplay and jokes, and a lot of sharp-edged conversation.  That's fine, but to me it kind of seemed like Lynch was trying to hard to find ways of showing off his astonishing collection of swear words.  He also had a couple of those scenes that are supposed to be humorous but end up just being awkward, around the concept of "the people in the room next to mine are going at it very loudly and it's disrupting my life."  Honestly, just leave those out.  Please.  It's better for everyone.  And for goodness sake, please leave out the whole "martyr for a greater cause" thing that seems to recur in almost every fantasy novel.  You're writing about pirates and thieves who loot and burn and kill people for a living, Mr. Lynch.  No need for  extra drama, over and above that.

It sounds like I really disliked the book.  I didn't, really.  I was very "meh" about the whole thing and that was disappointing for me as I bought the book in hardcover right when it came out (and then let it languish on my shelves for almost three years), and was really looking forward to an exciting adventure.  I hope the rest of the series (whenever it is published) takes place on land.  I don't think I can take another Ocean's Eleven a la Pirates of the Caribbean!

Review: The Crown Conspiracy

Title:  The Crown Conspiracy

Author:  Michael J. Sullivan

Publisher:  Aspirations Media

# of Pages:  296

I received this book for free to review.

This book is the first in a series of six books called the Riyria Revelations.  See my review of book two here.  My review of book three is here.

 
Plot Summary:
Hadrian and Royce are two thieves operating in the kingdom of Melengar.  They do the big jobs- nobles blackmailing rivals, stealing jewels, avenging affairs.  One day, they are approached by a stranger to retrieve a sword in the royal residence.  They do so, and are framed for the murder of the king.  The princess Arista helps them escape from prison with the caveat that they take her brother, the new king, to an obscure prison to meet with a man named Esrahaddon.  What follows is an entertaining plot that includes daring escapes, millennia-old wizards, dark magic, a religious conspiracy, elves, dwarves and much more.

The Crown Conspiracy is Michael Sullivan’s first book, and the first in a series of six in the Riyria Series (all books already written and ready to be published, I am assured).  The book is less than 300 pages long, but packs a lot of character development and hints of plots to come.  Because it’s the first in such a long series, it suffers somewhat from introducing characters that disappear and hinting at larger themes that we don’t get to see, but I feel like all fantasy  series do that.  I found the language a bit jarring.  Epic fantasy tends to use a certain level of formality in its language.  This book, though set in what seems to be a Medieval-ish kingdom, has characters saying things like, “yeah,” “no kidding,” and “kid.”  And then there was one character who spoke in thous and these and ‘tises.  It made sense for that character to do so, and the language used did not impede my enjoyment of the book, but I found it a bit odd.  Just goes to show how much of a fantasy nerd I am, if I get weirded out by characters using the same language I do!

I enjoyed the characters in this book, particularly Hadrian, Royce & the sweetest monk ever.   I suspect those are three we will learn many more secrets about as the series continues, and I am eager to know more about them.  They seem fascinating, but also a lot of fun- Hadrian particularly.  What’s refreshing about this book is that none of the characters really has the fantasy character prototypes working- They aren’t excessively arrogant or brooding over their pasts.  They don’t go around committing vile acts or double-crossing everyone.  They’re refreshing.

The plot, too, was interesting and fast-paced.  I only wish I had more of a hint on the series’ over-reaching plot, but perhaps more of that will become clear in book 2.  I don’t think the plot was ground-breakingly inventive, but the world created is interesting and will over time, I think, become more and more complex with political and religious intrigue.  Overall, a fun and interesting read.  I hope this author gets attention from the fantasy-reading public as he is published by a small press.  Props to the publisher for taking a chance on a six-book series by a new author!  Sometimes I think one of the best things a book blogger can do is to bring attention to these smaller publishers and the books they publish that never get a lot of hype but that are good reads.  So here’s my plug!

Sunday Salon: Blog Post Length

On one of my Google Reader suggested blogs to follow, a blogger said that, after reading a post on book review length, she really feels that she should make an effort to keep her reviews short and to the point.

This is her perogative, of course, but it got me thinking.  Why, if you prefer and naturally write longer reviews, would you then force yourself to write short ones because some other people prefer them that way?  Who exactly is this book blog for?  You, the blogger, or other people, the readers?

I think that's a question a lot of bloggers face as their blogs get more exposure.  It's not just about readers who prefer certain lengths of reviews, but also about publishers or publicists or authors who want you to read their books, and write about them and post reviews.

I started my blog for the primary purpose of tracking my reading.  I wanted to remember what I read, but not just as a way to keep count.  I also really wanted to know, later on, my reactions to a book- why I liked or disliked it, and how my tastes evolved over time.  I personally can't do that with a short review.  I am the sort of person who reads books, takes note of pages with quotes she really likes, and then copies those quotes into her LibraryThing account.  I enjoy reading short reviews, yes- they're quick and easy to get through.  But at the same time, I really enjoy the long ones.  I feel like through those, you can get more of a sense of the blogger, of her tastes and preferences, and have a discussion from there.  I admit that sometimes I scan parts of the review, but I generally read enough to get a jist.  I am not offended if people therefore skip my SUPER-long reviews (like my post on the Granta Chicago issue), or skim them.  Do whatever works for you.

I didn't realize, when I started blogging, just how big the community is.  Maybe if I had known when I started how much I'd be interacting with others, I'd make my reviews shorter.  But I started the blog for the reason I describe above and I don't think I'm likely to change my method any time soon.  So I apologize for those of you who like the short reviews, but mine are going to stay longish!

I am happy that my blog appeals to those who come and read it (truly, truly happy and grateful to you all), but even if it didn't, I think I'd continue in the same vein I write it now.  I enjoy it that way and I don't want to change it just because other people may prefer me to write in a different way.  I wouldn't change my personality because someone didn't like it, so why would I change my blog, which is in a way an extension of my personality?

Which brings me to my question- why did you start blogging?  Has your reason to blog changed over time?  Do you ever feel pressured to change your writing style or presentation?

Also, random question- when you post for the first time on a blog, do you introduce yourself?  Or say how you found it?  I usually never do (often because I troll a blog so long before actually commenting that I forget the author doesn't know me).  And I just want to make sure that doesn't make me seem uber-creepy.

And lastly, I wanted all of you in blogosphere to know:  My name is pronounced AAH-rah-thee.  (Thee, like the first syllable of theory, not the Old English word).  Usually not pronounced with three syllables, but that's technically how it is supposed to be said.  And with a rolling R, if you want to be very traditional.  And yes, yes- that is an H.  It's there in the pronunciation but not in the spelling.  Tricky, I know!

Review: Wish Her Safe at Home

Title:  Wish Her Safe at Home

Author:  Stephen Benatar

Favorite Line: 
There are things money can’t buy, things like fresh youth to replace the one you’ve hardly been aware of, things like lost opportunities which might conceivably have led to nothing, but which on the other hand might have led to fulfillment and serenity and new lives and passionate involvement… And human nature being what it is this is the version you’ll unquestionably believe.

This review is based on an advanced reader’s copy.

Plot Summary: 
Rachel Waring is a middle-aged, plain English woman stuck in a dead-end job in 1980.  She has never been in love, never been married, both her parents are dead and she has very few friends.  Thus, when she receives notice that she inherited her great-aunt’s beautiful old mansion in Bristol, Rachel is thrilled.  She visits the house, falls in love with it, notes that it has one of those famous blue plaques on it signifying it was lived in by a (minor and no longer remembered) member of the anti-slavery movement, and decides to move in, leaving her past behind her in London.

She plants a garden with the help of an attractive younger man, begins writing a biography of the 18^th century (minor and no longer remembered) anti-slavery advocate and goes about being friendly and cheerful to everyone she comes across  As the story continues, readers have the sense that not all is quite right with Rachel.  She invents a new life- even a new past- for herself as she goes “quietly and genteelly crazy.”

Virtual Advent Blog Tour

Today, I'm writing a post for the Virtual Advent Tour hosted by Marg and Kailana.  I have never participated in the Virtual Advent Tour before, mainly because I don't celebrate any holidays at this time of the year.  But that shouldn't stop me, right?  So here I am.

I spent some time mulling over what to write for this post.  We don't have many traditions centered around Christmas (or Hannukah or Kwanzaa) in my family.  If we have anything approaching a tradition for this time of year, it's traveling.

Last year, my family spent the holiday season in Thailand & Cambodia.  We've also rung in the new year in Cairo, Bangalore, Phoenix and the Carribbean.  This year, we may be spending Christmas in New Orleans, but we haven't made the decision quite yet.

I've always enjoyed our family travel, though I know a lot of people can't handle that much family in confined spaces for that long.  I can see that- it is difficult to spend that much time with the only people in the world you feel completely comfortable fighting with and blowing up at!  And I bet, if any of us kids were married, the way our parents so very badly want us to be, that the trips would probably end.  But for several years now, we've been going strong with them, and it's been good times.

Rosie's Riveters: Blodeuedd & Stephanie Plum

Rosie's Riveters is a weekly posting written by Booklust readers about riveting females in literature. Many readers have strong reactions to the women in the books they read- either very positive or very negative. These are the characters we find riveting, for good reasons or bad ones, and they form the population of Rosie's Riveters. Through this weekly post, we can discuss females we love to hate, or love to love. And maybe, just maybe- we can determine why we react so strongly to them.

If you are interested in participating, please comment on this post, e-mail me, or just fill out the template below and send it to me. I am always looking for more participants!

This week's poster is Blodeudd, from At the Court of Mur-y-Castell.  I think I only met Blodeuedd earlier this year, but we bonded quickly over a shared love of historical fiction and fantasy.  She is the one who urged me to read Poison Study and did a joint review of The Kingmaking with me.  She also lives in Finland, which makes her seem so magically northern and exotic.

Who is your Riveter? 
Stephanie Plum

What book does she feature in?
The Numbers series, and the between numbers books by Janet Evanovich.

Do you love her or hate her? 
Oh I love her.

Describe her personality- how would you describe her to a friend? 
Well she is friendly, spunky, she is a klutz, she loves cake and donuts, spends a lot of time with her family. In a way so is pretty average, in another way not so much.
 
Can you compare her to a celebrity? 
Many want Sandra Bullock to play her, and yes I could see that, but she is too old now. I read that the author envisions Anne Hathaway now. I can see that too, as long as the put some meat on those bones cos she was rather skinny last I saw her.

What makes her riveting? 
I can connect to her; she is an everyday woman, in a not so everyday situation. Yes she might not be anywhere a great bounty hunter, but she tries. She goes to Sunday dinners, and she loves her pet. A hooker has become her best friend. She does give everyone a chance. She is cool, and hey she does not say no to donuts. Sometimes a gal just needs donuts.
 
What do you most admire/despise about her? 
That she can keep her sanity around grandma Mazur, haha, it have to be from her she got that cool attitude. Kidding aside, she is a kick-ass heroine, even if she is the one who mostly gets kicked. But she is a pit-bull and she never gives up.

Would you recommend reading the book in which the Riveter features? 
Yes do read them. They are so funny; you are in for laughs and giggles, and some smokin’ hot guys! But do start at number one, and you can skip the in between novels cos they are not as good.

Do you have a quote by or about your Riveter that you'd like to share?

“Oh good. I love being bait for a homicidal mutilator."

Not a fav or anything, I just had to google quotes so I could give you something Plum-like.

Joint Musings: Fingersmith

Title:  Fingersmith

Author:  Sarah Waters

# of Pages:  582

Publisher:  Riverhead

Plot Summary:

Susan is a petty thief in London, living what she thinks is an ideal life.  Until Gentleman comes to her and her adopted family with a proposition- to entice a naive country lady into marriage with Gentleman, throw her into a mental institution, and abscond with her fortune.

Maud is that country lady, but she is not naive.  She is tired of her life in the country, locked up in her uncle's home with no power or authority.  In Gentleman, she sees a way to escape.

But things, for both ladies, don't turn out quite as they expect, and this novel is full of twists and turns that will make your head whirl.

A short plot summary, but it's hard to summarize when there are so many potential spoilers!

The below review is done jointly between Kailana and I.  See the first half of our discussion on her blog here, and then come back here for the conclusion.  My thoughts are in green and hers are in black:

I was expecting a lesbian relationship because that is one of the common themes in Waters' books. I was surprised that it wasn't more of a major theme than it was, though. I thought it was tastefully done, though, and if it played more of a theme than I probably wouldn't have liked the book as well. I am not big on romance novels. I am looking forward to read more from Waters next year, actually. The two books by her that I don't own are all ready on my 'buy with Christmas money' list. I think I am reading one of them with Ana from things mean a lot, but I can't remember what at the moment! Anyways, I agree on it being natural and built on trust.

As to my favourite character, I am like you. I can't really say who I enjoyed. I thought that Maud and Susan both had redeeming characteristics, so I actually liked both of them. Maud and her reading appealed to me at first. Then, though, there was everything that happened afterwards that made me not so fond of the reading anymore. I don't really want to say a lot because it is a potential big spoiler. Really, I could gush on and on about the characters and their stories and everything that came to pass, but if others want to read this book without knowing everything that happens I guess I cannot say nearly anything that I would love to say!

Yes, I know exactly what you mean!  It's hard with a book that has so many twists and turns to review it without spoilers.  I agree with you on the romance aspect- I expected it to be a more prominent plot piece, but I think the book succeeded really well with it being pushed pretty far away from mainstage because we got to see the characters on their own, and get to know them individually, rather than as two halves of a whole couple.

I thought that Waters did well with the settings, too.  The old, decrepit country house that was so dark and gloomy, where Maud spent so much time trying to keep her mother's grave clean.  The way the Thames by the house was so thin and weak, whereas in London it was so wide and busy.  Seeing London as a frightening and dirty place that was kind of the end of the road for a lot of people.  And the idea now that someone living only about 40 miles from such a huge city but never having been there is so hard to fathom, but just again goes to show the level of isolation women felt.  And then the scenes in the institution were written so well, too, and just make a reader ache to read.  Just great writing style all around!  Do you agree?

Oh, yes, I felt like I was there! I think she is fantastic all around writer. Not only did I feel like I really got to know the characters, but I felt like I was there. Even now that it has been a couple days since I finished the book I can close my eyes and picture the story through her description. I have never seen anything that she mentioned myself, but I feel like I almost have now. She is the sort of author that does not waste a word, but at the same time she is not long-winded either. She has just the right balance. Plus, she throws in the twists and turns, so just when you are starting to feel 'safe' you have another moment to consider what just happened! Talking about the book gets me very excited. I have read a lot of really good books this year, but I was feeling like I was lacking in the 'wow' books. The type of books that you are very sad to see end and that you want to reread again because you miss it all ready. That was this book for me! Reading this book was an experience and I cannot wait to have another one! I am not going to let it be two years this time!

That's great!  I love "wow" factor books, too.  I will have to think back over everything I read for my year-end wrap-up post.  I think Waters will be on the list of "newly discovered but long-on-my-shelf" authors.  A great book- I can't really add to your description above, so I'll just say "hear, hear!"  Thanks for reviewing it with me- it's definitely the sort of book that is fun to discuss with someone else, so I'm glad we did this!

Well, she won't be alone on my 'wow' list. There have been a couple others, but judging the total read compared to how many there are it is not really a very large amount! This was fun! And, it is about time we read a book together. Now, we need another one...