Vodkafan's 2011 reading list

[vodkafan]

Vandals Of The Void by Jack Vance

 

I was very pleased to get this book on my kindle through the Gollanz SF Gateway. It is one of the few Jack Vance books I had not read .

I was very disappointed. It is the only Jack Vance book I have not enjoyed. It was a silly juvenile story and had none of his sparkling language or interesting concepts. I would not recommend this one to anybody.

[willoyd]

I've just finished reading Pemberley myself, and can only agree with you Vodkafan - I don't agree with the general tenor of the reviews on Amazon, and do agree with your overall assessment: I ripped through it, not wanting to put it down. I think it took an interesting slant on P&P, and I also liked the way the roots of the book are very much buried in the first. Some other little twists linking in to other Austen novels too that are fun to spot. Again like you, I don't want to say too much to spoil it for other readers, but I will say that I agree with your spoiler as to what you didn't like. I don't agree with your 'character one most relates to', as I don't think they were at all developed by James. But then, if anything I think that was the weakest aspect of the book: strong on plot, fine on setting, but any sense of characterisation was largely dependent on one's experience of that character in P&P, with others fairly thin.

 

For those who are interested, my review is here

Edited November 27, 2011 by willoyd

[vodkafan]

I've just finished reading Pemberley myself, and can only agree with you Vodkafan - I don't agree with the general tenor of the reviews on Amazon, and do agree with your overall assessment: I ripped through it, not wanting to put it down. I think it took an interesting slant on P&P, and I also liked the way the roots of the book are very much buried in the first. Some other little twists linking in to other Austen novels too that are fun to spot. Again like you, I don't want to say too much to spoil it for other readers, but I will say that I agree with your spoiler as to what you didn't like. I don't agree with your 'character one most relates to', as I don't think they were at all developed by James. But then, if anything I think that was the weakest aspect of the book: strong on plot, fine on setting, but any sense of characterisation was largely dependent on one's experience of that character in P&P, with others fairly thin.

 

For those who are interested, my review is here

 

Hi Willoyd I read your review. Quite interesting how we concurred on a lot of points. I did think that I had caught a clear reference to another Austen novel (Persuasion) but when I checked the first name was different. Were there more? Maybe you can PM me to let me in on them?

[willoyd]

Maybe you can PM me to let me in on them?

 

PM sent so that no spoilers here.

[Weave]

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.

 

Sounds a interesting read VF, Portia de Rossi shows herself as very strong and confident, you would never know about her problems, sharing her story is very brave, great review.

[vodkafan]

Sounds a interesting read VF, Portia de Rossi shows herself as very strong and confident, you would never know about her problems, sharing her story is very brave, great review.

 

Hi Weave,

it was all a front, she had been insecure and a bag of nerves since childhood, it is a very brave book I agree and an interesting read.

[vodkafan]

After so many good reviews on here, I read The Hunger Games and am now half way through number 2 should finish it tonight.

[chaliepud]

After so many good reviews on here, I read The Hunger Games and am now half way through number 2 should finish it tonight.

 

How are you finding it VF?

[vodkafan]

How are you finding it VF?

 

Hi chaliepud the first one was very good fast pace. Second one is OK so far, the bits with the stylists and dresses and hairdoes seem incongruous to me and a bit silly considering the life or death premise. But they are easy reads so I will zoom through the whole series.

[chaliepud]

I enjoyed all three of the books but I did feel they the second book was a bit of a bridge between the first and final book, with a bit of fluff to fill it out...

[vodkafan]

I enjoyed all three of the books but I did feel they the second book was a bit of a bridge between the first and final book, with a bit of fluff to fill it out...

 

aha OK. I will bear that in mind

[Karsa Orlong]

After so many good reviews on here, I read The Hunger Games

You obviously didn't read my review

[vodkafan]

You obviously didn't read my review

 

Hi Karsa I just went and found yours. I admit that parts of the story don't make sense and that no society would tolerate that. But as a plot device for young adults to identify with someone the same age in a life-or-death adventure I could see the appeal.

[vodkafan]

Finished the last instalment of The Hunger Games trilogy. Reading The Winter King now.

[Karsa Orlong]

Reading The Winter King now.

Blimey, that was quick! Hope you enjoy it

[vodkafan]

Blimey, that was quick! Hope you enjoy it

 

I am only about 10 pages in but I seem to be getting deja vu....the name Nimue seems familiar yet I don't remember reading this book before....I will let you know after I read a bit more.

[Karsa Orlong]

I am only about 10 pages in but I seem to be getting deja vu....the name Nimue seems familiar yet I don't remember reading this book before....I will let you know after I read a bit more.

I expect you've heard the name in Arthurian legend - wasn't she the Lady of the Lake?

[vodkafan]

I expect you've heard the name in Arthurian legend - wasn't she the Lady of the Lake?

 

nah I think the lady of the lake was called something else....I have definitely read this before but only the beginning I think. Arthur is in it now it is hotting up nicely.

[vodkafan]

I forgot to take my kindle to work and so I was forced to start another book (one of several in my locker):The Angel's Game .by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. I had put off starting this before because I thought it would be really stodgey and hard to get into; but on the contrary it is very easy to read and he plays with words so there is at least one gem of a phrase on every page. I am 50 pages in already without me realising the time went by .

[Karsa Orlong]

nah I think the lady of the lake was called something else....

That confused me as well! It looks like Nimue was her Welsh name, which fits in with Cornwell's naming of characters and places throughout the book(s)

 

http://www.earlybritishkingdoms.com/bios/nimue.html

[Kidsmum]

I forgot to take my kindle to work and so I was forced to start another book (one of several in my locker):The Angel's Game .by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. I had put off starting this before because I thought it would be really stodgey and hard to get into; but on the contrary it is very easy to read and he plays with words so there is at least one gem of a phrase on every page. I am 50 pages in already without me realising the time went by .

 

Angel's Game is on my my TBR pile so will be interested to hear what you think of it. I really liked Shadow of the Wind by the same author have you read that one already ?

[vodkafan]

Angel's Game is on my my TBR pile so will be interested to hear what you think of it. I really liked Shadow of the Wind by the same author have you read that one already ?

 

Haven't read SOTW yet but I will. Regarding Angel's Game, superlatives spring to mind; mysterious, dark, sensuous, but also witty and funny. It is also delicious because it is about writing and the love of books. At least it has been so far.

Edited December 10, 2011 by vodkafan

[vodkafan]

That confused me as well! It looks like Nimue was her Welsh name, which fits in with Cornwell's naming of characters and places throughout the book(s)

 

http://www.earlybritishkingdoms.com/bios/nimue.html

 

Thanks Steve that was really interesting. Yes Vivienne is the name I had heard. I looked at some of the other links on his site too concerning Arthur. It looks like every other bloke and his wife were called Arthur at this time.

[Karsa Orlong]

It looks like every other bloke and his wife were called Arthur at this time.

 

I thought Shadow of the Wind was marvellous

[vodkafan]

I just finished The Winter King. It was a good story, with lots of period detail. I especially liked the odd vestiges of Roman occupation and habits that lingered on. The first use in Western armies of Cataphracts ( Arthur's heavy armoured horsemen) was all historically correct for the time. I enjoyed the way everybody kept telling the hero Derfel to take a bath throughout the book. The island of Ynes Trebes seemed very familiar to me, I thought it must be Mont St. Michel but then disregarded this as the book said it was located in Brittany; however I googled and found out that Mont St. Michel was indeed part of Brittany back in those days and did not become part of Normandy till the Normans (Vikings) came.

The ending of the book was a terrific great battle that was written very well, as it was easy to follow the action. Merlin's intervention was no surprise to me though, I expected it.

I am not in a hurry to read the next instalment for a while though, as the author has completely mangled my internal vision of King Arthur, and I have to let my brain mourn it for a bit before I return to Cornwell's version.

Going to read something light now, perhaps by Janet Evanovitch.