Reading resolutions

I don't do New Year's resolutions... but this year I have some reading resolutions and goals...

• Update my goodreads with everything I read, writing reviews as much as possible.
• Write reviews for Random acts of reviewing.
• Update my death & grief bibliography on librarything.
• Read and review one teen book a week for the work blog.
• Try and do a Top 5 list once a fortnight.

So.... that's that! Let's see how I go :D.

Reading history

For those who don't know - I'm on Good Reads, and take part in challenges - go Romance Readers Challenge! 

Anyhoo, a while ago - one of the challenges was to read a book from each year you've been alive. I thought I'd share my list:

A life-time of books:
Reading time allowed: May 2009 to November 2010. Finished 17 July 2010.
I tried to re-read books I owned, as I thought it was a more true reflection of my reading life than reading something new to me.


1971 - Dragonquest by Anne McCaffrey. 21 Dec 2009. Re-read & own.
1972 - The Summer Book by Tove Jansson. 15 July 2010.
1973 - To Ride Pegasus by Anne McCaffrey. 20 Sept 2009. Re-read & own.
1974 - Mister God, this Is Anna by Fynn. 2 May 2010. Re-read & own.
1975 - The Machine-Gunners by Robert Westall. 27 March 2010.
1976 - Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less by Jeffrey Archer. 13 Nov 2009. Re-read & own.
1977 - Illusions by Richard Bach. 22 Sept 2009. Re-read & own.
1978 - Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast by Robin McKinley. 24 May 2009. Re-read & own.
1979 - Under the Mountain by Maurice Gee. 8 Aug 2009. Re-read.
1980 - The Beginning Place by Ursula K. Le Guin. 12 Aug 2009. Re-read.
1981 - Good Night, Mr. Tom by Michelle Magorian. 9 Sept 2009. Re-read & own.
1982 - The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley. 6 June 2009. Re-read & own.
1983 - Alanna: The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce. 14 May 2009. Re-read & own.
1984 - The Changeover by Margaret Mahy. 19 June 2009. Re-read & own.
1985 - The Ruby in the Smoke by Philip Pullman. 23 Sept 2009. Re-read & own.
1986 - To Love and to Conquer by Joyce Verrette. 13 Nov 2009. This is the pub date of the UK edition - which had no info re the US edition - which I've just discovered was 1984. Sorry... So, also read Jesse's Lady by Veronica Sattler. 12 January 2010. Both of these are re-read and owns - owning, in that I inherited them from my sister.
1987 - The League of Night and Fog by David Morrell. 20 Sept 2009. Re-read & own.
1988 - The Gate to Women's Country by Sherri S Tepper. 14 Aug 2009. Re-read & own.
1989 - The Silver Pigs by Lindsey Davis. 23 Aug 2009. Re-read & own.
1990 - Good Omens by Terry Pratchett & Neil Gaiman. 14 July 2009. Re-read & own.
1991 - The Juniper Game Sherryl Jordan. 2 July 2009. Re-read & own.
1992 - In Good Time by Muriel Jensen. 1 January 2010. Re-read & own - another inherited book.
1993 - Deerskin by Robin McKinley. 9 Nov 2009. Re-read.
1994 - The Hidden City by David Eddings. 15 Sept 2009. Re-read & own.
1995 - Wish And a Kiss by Margaret St George. 17 Sept 2009. Re-read & own.
1996 - The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner. 1 June 2009. Re-read & own.
1997 - Magician's Ward by Patricia C. Wrede. 19 Nov 2009. Re-read & own.
1998 - The Surgeon of Crowthorne by Simon Winchester. 29 December 2009. Re-read & own.
1999 - The Tower and the Hive by Anne McCaffrey. 19 Aug 2009. Re-read & own.
2000 - The Redemption of Althalus by David & Leigh Eddings. 4 Sept 2009. Re-read & own.
2001 - Living With Crazy Buttocks by Kaz Cooke. 28 December 2009. Re-read & own.
2002 - Lady Knight by Tamora Pierce. 14 Sept 2009. Re-read & own.
2003 - Sunshine by Robin McKinley. 17 March 2010. Re-read & own.
2004 - Cross Tides by Lorraine Orman. 30 Oct 2009. Re-read & own.
2005 - Across the Wall: A Tale of the Abhorsen and Other Stories by Garth Nix. 4 Aug 2009. Re-read & own.
2006 - The Mislaid Magician or Ten Years After: Being the Private Correspondence Between Two Prominent Families Regarding a Scandal Touching the Highest Levels of Government and the Security of the Realm by Patricia C. Wrede & Caroline Stevermer. 10 January 2010.  Re-read & own.
2007 - Time of the Eagle by Sherryl Jordan. 15 June 2010. Re-read.
2008 - Chalice by Robin McKinley. 20 Oct 2009. Re-read.
2009 - Bloodhound by Tamora Pierce. 4 July 2009. Own.
2010 - Archangel's Kiss by Nalini Singh. 8 March 2010.

Review it: An old favourite

These Old Shades by Georgette Heyer


My rating: 5 of 5 stars




Sparkling dialogue - a hero just as bad as he should be - a heroine who can actually stand on her own feet (even if she's only 19). The Duke of Avon (aka Satanas) buys a page - Leon - who is really Leonie, with a sordid family history. Avon has an interesting history of his own, including fighting in the '45 rebellion.


Heyer is brilliant - others just try to reach her level. I'm pretty sure I read a Barbara Cartland take-off, but that would have been over 20 years ago... so hard to remember!






additional review: November 2010:


There's something about re-reading an old favourite. It's like changing into your old snuggly slippers and dressing gown. You know they're a bit shabby, a bit worn down, but you - without being aware of it really - skip over the holes and instead revel in the comfort they provide.


So it is with These Old Shades. I'd hate to think how many times I've read this - which was first published in 1926.


I adore Avon, the hero. He has the perfect mix of tenderness and suppressed violence - and a shady past. He is probably whom I base all romance heroes upon.


Leonie, the heroine, is a wonderful mixture of innocence, wisdom and world-weariness.


I can see how this May and December romance works. Avon is in his 40s, Leonie is 19. They have time to develop a real relationship, without any romantic overtones, and learn to appreciate each other as people - pretty much warts and all.


Leonie's development, growth and change from mischievous page boy to irrepressible young lady, is also believable, within the world developed.


Avon is a force of nature - unwielding and secretive - so it is difficult to read him at times - that is, to get inside his head.


Ah, the relationship between Avon and Leonie. Trust, honesty, respect, adoration, acceptance and freedom between them. One of the best lines ever is from Leonie: I would so much rather be the last woman than the first. Yes they change, all do in relationships - but they remain themselves. In Devil's Cub, the story of their son, Leonie is a well-established, middle-aged duchess, and Avon is heading towards elderly (he'd be in his 60s I suppose - and that's probably why I don't re-read this one. My Avon is in his prime, and that's how he'll stay, thank you very much!). However, Leonie is irrepressible and forthright - still with that touch of Leon, the page. Avon remains inscrutable.


The supporting cast are all well-drawn and have sustained personalities. There are Avon's siblings - Fanny (who is very silly - well, focused on fashion and society - believable for the times) and Rupert - a gadabout young man. And the very sober Edward Marling, Fanny's husband, Hugh Davenant and Tony Merivale - friends of the family. The pig-person, or baddie, is also believable within this world.


There is mystery - the dénouement and details are somewhat foreshadowed - which is well-handled, as you'd hope from someone who also wrote mysteries!


The historical detail is convincing - Heyer is renown for her research and accuracy.


The dialogue moves the action forward and gives glimpses into the characters' thoughts and personalities.


There is no sex - one kiss, very briefly mentioned and interrupted. There is some violence - again, detailed just enough so you know what has happened (no matter how bloodthirsty Leonie is!). There are lots of parties and LOTS of descriptions of clothing.


Oh, and you might struggle with the French expressions scattered throughout. I just skip what I don't understand. Mind you, I'l still trying to figure out what Pon Rep might be an abbreviation of - and that's English! Readers in the 1920s obviously were bilingual!


All of this is wonderful - in my eyes, at least. And I'm not alone - it's still in print and still read and enjoyed.


Now - the holes. For me, there's only really one - and it's major. It's the old 'nature versus nurture' debate. (My years studying anthropology come to the fore now.) Leonie's genetic heritage is obvious to all - she must be well-born. Helpfully, some of her behaviour and mannerisms - and education - are explained by the years she was taught by, and live with, the village priest - an aristocrat. The vicomte is a clod and all he wants is a farm, although raised in society and frequent attendant at Versailles.


But, if you accept this premise - that nature is paramount - then enjoy the read.






View all my reviews

Fun on a Friday: review time

Anyhoo... I posted this review on a discussion / challenge in Good reads - but thought I'd share it here. Haven't reviewed anything in AGES!

Three times a bride
An anthology. So, three novellas - three 'forced' weddings. As always with anthologies, a bit rocky.
First up: 'Fancy free' by Catherine Anderson.
Western. She wears glasses, but was rejected because of them, so doesn't wear them in public - hence, embroils the wrong brother in her revenge plot. Found the next morning in a compromising position IN THE CHURCH! How convenient, they could just get married straight away... And, seeing as hero was thinking about getting hog-tied anyhoo (those brothers of his are all running wild and having nightmares) the Father with gun, *seriously - pointed AT HIS HEAD* (sorry, I think it was a pistol, not a shotgun) - he goes through with wedding. Introduce New Bride and all is perfect... until aunt arrives... blah, blah. Yep, predictable. 3 stars.... ok, but not overwhelming.

Followed by 'The mad earl's bride' by Loretta Chase.
He's just like his mother - over-sexed and headachy. So, convinced he's going to die at any moment, he lives recklessly in the wilds of Yorkshire (crap! I think it's Yorkshire)... anyhoo, moving on. Then calamity! He becomes the earl - thanks too close-to-impossible-plot-device... Enter, even whose than a blue-stocking, but *shock horror* an EDUCATED woman who wants to be a doctor, but those mean nasty men won't let her. That's ok - she's found a dying man to marry (and breed with, quickly you understand - thank goodness her family are so fertile) and leave her his fortune so she can build her hospital and run it without those pesky men interfering. Gotta love those frizzy-redheads... That said - I really liked her! 3.5 stars - nearly 4.

Last cab... 'Scandal's bride' by Samantha James.
How sad. Her father is forcing her to marry - three seasons you know. To stop his evilness, she finds the first man she doesn't already know and KISSES him in public. Well, on the balcony, just as her friend appears in a pre-arranged set-up. Father is there, tho! No escape!! It's marriage for sure. Right then. Well, an hour or so later. THEN... no consumation. THEN... misunderstanding... THEN... togetherness... THEN... misunderstanding... THEN... happy ever after. Ho hum 3 stars.
So - overall, an OK read. 3 stars. Right for those brain-dead times when you need the words to wash over your eyeballs, but don't actually require much in the way of brain cells to comprehend the meaning.

Oh... discussion questions!
Did the story & characters sound realistic? Um... that would be a NO.
Could you relate to any of the characters or certain things that happened in the story? If so, can you share an example? Frizzy-red head with an education? One who basically speaks in tongues when sharing her knowledge. Yep. That would be me. Well, sorta wavy, and sorta auburn. And, the whole speaking-in-tongue things, I've really cut down on that. Blank looks aren't always funny. (Sometimes they're hilarious).
There you go - is that enough of a review for you all?

Everybody read now

I come from a family of readers. My mother taught me that it's much more worthwhile to read than do housework (thanks Sara for doing it for me. It's ok, I pay her!).

I'm going to do my best to indoctrinate Monkey... I bought her this book ages before she was born. It's signed by the author... Happy reading Whoever you turn out to be...

Just to prove that my family reads, here's Grumpy (the brother-in-law) and Smooch

So, even the cat reads...

Some light reading

Visual evidence of my reading pile/s. The first photo shows the chaotic sprawl that is my brain. The second - the tidy piles I wish I could get to - and organise my brain into.

From left to right of the piles: reading for fun / monthly reading challenges for goodreads; the 2nd pile - children's & teens' books in translation for the next Storylines booklist; the 3rd, and largest, NZ children's & teens' books published this year for the Storylines notable books meeting next month.

So, yes, I have to read ALL by the end of the July. Most of pile one by the end of this month - yep, four days! Oh, and there were 2 books in my bag I forgot to include in that pile.

And, reading for work - and knitting socks and scarf.

So - quiet reading weekend.

At least I don't have to do the dishes. Nothing like putting them off (rinse & leave - that's my motto) until the landlord texts because he has to drop off lawnmowing money. So, very quick run around the house to tidy up a weeny bit and do the dishes. Then he didn't even come in the house! Oh well. The dishes are done.

Book review time

It's been a while since I reviewed a book on here - so...

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows

What a joy! I read it in one gulp because I just needed to find out what would happen - would Juliet end up with Mark. What about Dawsey? He was so wonderful - something had to happen! Would Elizabeth come home?

As you read through you know what you WANT to happen - and those wants could contradict each other.

I love novels in different formats and this one is epistolary (ie in letters, and notes, and telegrams in this case).

And then there's the experiences of the Guernsey Islanders during German occupation - and the stories of the German soldiers. Yes, a lot of bad - but those glimpses of humans behind the badge are well-drawn.

And the wonders, joys, and friendships that come out of reading...

This is now on my wish list - fancy that! An adult novel!!!

I'm re-reading it shortly...

Reading and libraries

The power of reading...


And, if you want to - just fast foward to about 6.20 for the bit about reading. Otherwise - 8 minutes of Sean Connery - good day.

Then there's this gem a friend sent me ages ago & I've just rediscovered while clearing out files - How to use a library