vodkafan Posted October 29, 2011 Author Share Posted October 29, 2011 I just finished The Margarets by Sheri S. Tepper. I am really behind on my reviews I will try to do some today. After I have mooched around the forum a bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vodkafan Posted October 30, 2011 Author Share Posted October 30, 2011 (edited) The Margarets By Sherri S. Tepper This is one of the SF Gateway classic books I have downloaded. Sherri S. Tepper is a new author to me, but not really very new as she was born in 1929! The first book I have read of hers, the blurb caught my imagination, so I chose this one to start off with. You know that Gwyneth Paltrow film where an event happens and she splits off into two separate Gwyneths ?.... well this is a Sci Fi version of that if you like. Margaret grows up as the only child on Mars in a colony of adults..as such she is ignored and makes her own amusement by creating for herself different imaginary personalities...or she thinks they are imaginary. Later on she returns to Earth and the true horror of living in the late 21st century on a polluted dying planet under the direction of alien races is revealed to her. But then starting when she is nine a strange thing happens...the imaginary personalities Margaret created start to split off and become real separate versions of Margaret living in different parts of human occupied space..and collectively the seven Margarets, if and when they meet again are the the only hope to save the human race from extinction. I enjoyed this book, I am glad that I read the couple of pages of notes and the diagram at the beginning, which helped me remember which alien race was which. I also had to rest at intervals to let bits sink in. There are a lot of unusual concepts and seven different Margarets to get your head around. The first half of the book was the strongest for me, the splitting off was weird but wonderful as it was not explained, and the setting was quite hard SciFi. The second half seemed to become more Fantasy. The ending seemed a little rushed. One point that interested me much was the author's concept of "gods" was exactly the same as in Neil Gaiman's American Gods. Along the way she also has a dig at why humans are destroying our planet and some interesting points about language, why women are great and men are all nasty, etc etc Edited October 30, 2011 by vodkafan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vodkafan Posted October 30, 2011 Author Share Posted October 30, 2011 The Seedling Stars by James Blish Another classic Sci Fi from SF Gateway. This one is a re-read for me, I read it years ago. It is a collection of 4 short stories linked by a theme, which is that instead of men having to live under domes and carrying their atmosphere with them to explore space and having to wear space suits (an expensive process), men would be adapted genetically to fit and live on different planets, so that their offspring would be able to make best use of the environment . And eventually, there would be not just one type of human but lots of different types, ever changing as mankind spreads from planet to planet. For me, the best story of the lot (and the only one I remembered) is Surface Tension where a seedling ship crash lands on a planet and the only chance to seed it is to make the adapted men miroscopic size so they can live in the freshwater ponds on the surface. There they have to fight the vicious rotifers and other water pond life to survive and eventually they build a tiny wooden "space ship" to travel out onto the land for a few feet to the next pond. The rest of the stories sadly are not up to the same standard, the last one being especially boring. It was worth it just to read Surface Tension again though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vodkafan Posted November 4, 2011 Author Share Posted November 4, 2011 Just finished my 50th book this year which was my reading target and I still have two months to go!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kidsmum Posted November 4, 2011 Share Posted November 4, 2011 Just finished my 50th book this year which was my reading target and I still have two months to go!! Well done!!! I haven't done a count up but don't think I'm anywhere near that, need to update my list Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pickle Posted November 4, 2011 Share Posted November 4, 2011 Fantastic, I have failed miserably to keep up with mine as I am nowhere near as good at reviewing or listing them to busy consuming books like they are becoming extinct. The kindle its bad for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppyshake Posted November 4, 2011 Share Posted November 4, 2011 I wondered where my mojo had gone, seems you've got it well done VF. I wonder what your 2011 total will be, what are you aiming for? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sofia Posted November 4, 2011 Share Posted November 4, 2011 wow! Impressive xxxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weave Posted November 4, 2011 Share Posted November 4, 2011 Well done VF on your 50th book! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vodkafan Posted November 5, 2011 Author Share Posted November 5, 2011 I wondered where my mojo had gone, seems you've got it well done VF. I wonder what your 2011 total will be, what are you aiming for? Might not read any more now till 2012......yeah right as if I could keep away from my kindle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vodkafan Posted November 13, 2011 Author Share Posted November 13, 2011 I gave up on Freakenomics tonight.... The first part was good, then in my kindle version the authors had inserted a load of supplementary material, critical articles and bits from their own blog which just blew their own trumpets and repeated the same subjects over again..I started to get fed up with it. I am really behind on my reviews but real life is quite demanding of me at the moment, to say the least... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankie Posted November 13, 2011 Share Posted November 13, 2011 I gave up on Freakenomics tonight.... The first part was good, then in my kindle version the authors had inserted a load of supplementary material, critical articles and bits from their own blog which just blew their own trumpets and repeated the same subjects over again..I started to get fed up with it. I am really behind on my reviews but real life is quite demanding of me at the moment, to say the least... Just skip the supplementary material, it's not in the book so it's not cheating! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vodkafan Posted November 13, 2011 Author Share Posted November 13, 2011 Just skip the supplementary material, it's not in the book so it's not cheating! yeah, but then it was like all the information was all about America and although the guy's way of looking at the world was interesting, I thought how is this going to affect me or anything I do? I just switched off. I got so many good books on my kindle right now... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vodkafan Posted November 16, 2011 Author Share Posted November 16, 2011 (edited) Uniform Justice by Donna Leon This was a quick read I picked up at work. It is a murder mystery, not my usual thing but I enjoyed it well enough. I think it is one of a series set in the city of Venice. The Venetian detective is Commissario Brunetti, a left wing liberal socialist sort of guy. (There seems quite a lot of politics in the book, and it is easy to see where the author's sympathies lie, as all the "good" characters seem to share Brunetti's politics) The Venetian Police seem to be corrupt when they are not simply inept. Brunetti however has a couple of good men to help him; the observant and sensitive Inspector Vianello and the capable Pucetti, the only uniformed officer that seems to have any common sense. Also in the office he has the beautiful but mysterious Signorina Elettra who seems to be able to extract any needed information from the computer whether legally or ilegally. Sorry but to me Miss Elettra just seemed a pale imitation of Lisbeth Salander. The plot followed a fairly linear course. A boy at a military school has been murdered and everybody seems intent on covering it up. The ending however was not quite what I expected which is why I thought it was worth reviewing. Some may not be satisfied with the ending! Edited November 16, 2011 by vodkafan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kylie Posted November 17, 2011 Share Posted November 17, 2011 I gave up on Freakenomics tonight.... The first part was good, then in my kindle version the authors had inserted a load of supplementary material, critical articles and bits from their own blog which just blew their own trumpets and repeated the same subjects over again..I started to get fed up with it. I am really behind on my reviews but real life is quite demanding of me at the moment, to say the least... Aww, sorry to hear you got bored with it, VF. Just skip the supplementary material, it's not in the book so it's not cheating! Actually, that material is in the book too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
julie Posted November 17, 2011 Share Posted November 17, 2011 yeah, but then it was like all the information was all about America and although the guy's way of looking at the world was interesting, I thought how is this going to affect me or anything I do? I just switched off. I got so many good books on my kindle right now... VF Don't blame you a bit for giving up on a book you aren't getting much out of . I have the same opinion. Lots of other books waiting on me, so no use wasting time on one that you really aren't enjoying . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willoyd Posted November 17, 2011 Share Posted November 17, 2011 (edited) Hi Vodkafan. I enjoyed reading your review of Uniform Justice, particularly as you're fresh to the series, in contrast to me. This was a quick read I picked up at work. It is a murder mystery, not my usual thing but I enjoyed it well enough. I think it is one of a series set in the city of Venice. The Venetian detective is Commissario Brunetti, a left wing liberal socialist sort of guy. I wouldn't have classed him as left wing. Pretty firmly centre ground I would have said. Paola on the other hand......! Sorry but to me Miss Elettra just seemed a pale imitation of Lisbeth Salander. I'd have never compared the two! Interesting! But, pedantically, Signorina Elettra can't be an imitation, as she predates Lisbeth Salander quite considerably. [ The ending however was not quite what I expected which is why I thought it was worth reviewing. Some may not be satisfied with the ending! I haven't quite got to Uniform Justice, as I'm working my way through the series in order, and have just reached Friends In High Places (number 9), but what you say is not untypical - Brunetti endings are often not quite 'satisfactory', reflecting, I would suspect, Leon's views on Italian society. As you may have gathered, I'm a bit of a fan of the series (you don't get to number nine without enjoyig them after all!). However, it's not because of the murder/mystery side: they are often fairly straightforward, with the 'denoumement' sliding quietly in from one side of the stage (it sounds like Uniform Justice is of this ilk). It's more to do with the characters (mainly the Brunetti family) and the setting (which, on my limited knowledge, evokes Venice wonderfully) - although the plot isn't completely incidental! I don't find any one book outstanding - having awarded most of them 3-4 stars out of 6 - but as a series it's got distinctly under my skin and has become very addictive. BTW, I was sorry to read that Freakonomics didn't come up to scratch, not least because it's on a list of books I have down to read as part of a reading challenge to be completed by January. Having dipped into it, I think I know what you mean though. Edited November 17, 2011 by willoyd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vodkafan Posted November 17, 2011 Author Share Posted November 17, 2011 Hi Willoyd, thanks for reading my review! As you know more of the series it was very interesting reading your feedback. So Signorina Elettra was in existence before Salander? I was wrong there then. I thought the relationship between Brunetti and his wife was interesting; I noticed that although they obviously were OK together that their interchanges in the book were mostly verbal, they were never hugging or touching. And all she seemed to do was stay at home and cook. During the course of the story she cooked every Italian meal known to man. I can see why the characters got under your skin though that was the best bit of the book for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vodkafan Posted November 22, 2011 Author Share Posted November 22, 2011 I finished Death Comes To Pemberley and really enjoyed it. I will review it soon. It has got mostly negative reviews on Amazon though. At the moment I am reading an autobiography: Unbearable Lightness: A Story Of Loss And Gain. It is by Portia de Rossi. I don't watch telly and have never seen Ally Mcbeal but I understand she is the wife of Ellen Degeneres. It is very harrowing reading. It is so far about her struggles with her weight, which is(was) her measure of her own self esteem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppyshake Posted November 22, 2011 Share Posted November 22, 2011 I was reading about Death Comes to Pemberley today .. it's PD James right? I think I saw it advertised in the Waterstones Christmas catalogue and I couldn't help but be intrigued by the title and synopsis .. it's always a worry though when an author revisits a favourite book and set of characters .. especially one not originally created by them .. that it will ring false and .. what's the polite way of saying it? ... dump on the original from a great height I have a lot of respect for PD James though .. even though I haven't read any of her books .. she just seems so sensible and switched on. I can't imagine she took this project on lightly. I've hated every sequel/prequel to Jane's work so far though so am cautious about giving it a go. I guess what I'm saying is .. can't wait for your review VF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vodkafan Posted November 22, 2011 Author Share Posted November 22, 2011 I was reading about Death Comes to Pemberley today .. it's PD James right? I think I saw it advertised in the Waterstones Christmas catalogue and I couldn't help but be intrigued by the title and synopsis .. it's always a worry though when an author revisits a favourite book and set of characters .. especially one not originally created by them .. that it will ring false and .. what's the polite way of saying it? ... dump on the original from a great height I have a lot of respect for PD James though .. even though I haven't read any of her books .. she just seems so sensible and switched on. I can't imagine she took this project on lightly. I've hated every sequel/prequel to Jane's work so far though so am cautious about giving it a go. I guess what I'm saying is .. can't wait for your review VF I will write it soon...there is just one thing in the book I wanted to check on first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppyshake Posted November 22, 2011 Share Posted November 22, 2011 (edited) I will write it soon...there is just one thing in the book I wanted to check on first. Lol .. I look forward to reading it VF but really, take no notice of me, I'm the last person who should nag anyone for a review. I'm still trying to review October's books I've just looked it up .. apparently I still haven't reviewed September's books .. shocking! Edited November 24, 2011 by poppyshake Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willoyd Posted November 22, 2011 Share Posted November 22, 2011 (edited) And all she seemed to do was stay at home and cook. During the course of the story she cooked every Italian meal known to man. You might not have said that if you had read the book before in the series (Fatal Remedies), where she's the one arrested in the first few pages for vandalism and malicious damage - all in protest. Paola is very principled, and definitely has a mind of her own! I do agree though, she's very much in the domestic background in this one. I'm also looking forward to your Pemberley review, but am not in a massive rush as I've just started it. Edited November 22, 2011 by willoyd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vodkafan Posted November 26, 2011 Author Share Posted November 26, 2011 Death Comes To Pemberley by PD James Here is my review. Sorry it is just going to be a few words because I think most people who liked Pride and Prejudice are going to want to read this themselves and I don't want to spoil it for anyone. I have been surprised by the vitriolic reviews on Amazon about this book, undeserved in my opinion. It was a quick read. The main things I liked about it were: 1)In the same way that the seeds of WW2 were sown by the results of WW1, the events in this book were born out of things that happened in P & P. Elizabeth and Darcy might have been set up for happy ever after but some of the other characters were not so fortunate. 2)The simple pleasure of reading these beloved characters having another ride about after 200 years. Something I didn't like so much: Elizabeth didn't do a lot. The character I most identified with: Johnny Wickham. I felt sorry for him. He was intelligent, handsome. But because of the circumstances of his birth he could never do any good no matter how he tried, whereas Darcy had everything on a plate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vodkafan Posted November 26, 2011 Author Share Posted November 26, 2011 Unbearable Lightness- a story of loss and gain by Portia de Rossi I didn't know who Portia de Rossi was when I started reading. This is not about her relationship with Ellen Degenares (who she credits with saving her life every day) but about her unnatural relationship to food when she was growing up, which was linked to her self esteem. Although she obviously is not a natural writer, she tells her own story in her own words which have a scary power . I didn't know anything about bulimia or anorexia. It was shocking. Things came to a head eventually when she collapsed during filming an action film. She weighed 82 pounds and was too weak to do the stunts. At the end she has some things to say about women in our culture which make sense. It was a good read. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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