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maribouMerlin, ed. by Martin Greenberg
A couple of stand-out stories, but I wouldn't recommend the anthology as a whole unless you are a die-hard Arthurian fantasy completist like me.
(55/250)
The Blind Geometer, by Kim Stanley Robinson, and New Atlantis, by Ursula K. LeGuin
Hurray for Tor Doubles!! I had not read either of these before; I loved the Robinson and liked the LeGuin. Was pleasantly surprised by the inclusion of a KSR story I'd read before - something about the Rainbow Bridge - which was still fun the second time through.
(56/250)
The Way the Future Was, by Frederick Pohl
This was totally charming and funny and fascinating 95 percent of the time. Ok, the other 5 percent was occasionally a bit tedious - but it was tedious in ways I'd been expecting and didn't mind, so that was alright.
(57/250)
Bridge of Birds, by Barry Hughart (reread)
I remembered this as funnier and less moving. Still delicious, either way. Chinese setting, fantasy with humorous touches and lovely imagery.
(58/250)
Native Tongue, by Carl Hiaasen
This started pretty typical-thriller-that-thinks-it's-funny, but then it turned out to actually be funny! And exciting! And satisfyingly characterized with lots of rants. It even reminds me a little bit of Edward Abbey's novels, albeit in the echoey way and not the 'omg totally the best thing since' way.
(59/250)
These High, Green Hills, by Jan Karon
This series is soothing in the same way that Garrison Keillor and Stuart McLean are soothing. And when you have been having a very stressful couple of months and you just want something sweet and cheerful to read in the few minutes before bed, they are just about perfect for the task. That said, I am at pains to stretch out the series because I think if I tried to read them all at once they would quickly shift from 'sweet' to 'cloying'.
(60/250)
Critical Injuries, by Joan Barfoot
I was originally having a lot of trouble engaging with this book and then I realized it was because someone I love was just about to go into the hospital and large sections of it are set in .... the hospital. Duh. So I waited until all that was good and over and then tried the book again, and I'm very glad about it. A beautifully written and totally captivating book; it feels Canadian in the 'yes, this book is related to Margaret Atwood and Margaret Laurence' way. Also, not for the physically or emotionally squeamish; my best beloved was making fun of the jacket copy and said, 'come on, is it really "harrowing"??" and I realized that yes, it is, actually. Anyway, it was very good.
(61/250)
A couple of stand-out stories, but I wouldn't recommend the anthology as a whole unless you are a die-hard Arthurian fantasy completist like me.
(55/250)
The Blind Geometer, by Kim Stanley Robinson, and New Atlantis, by Ursula K. LeGuin
Hurray for Tor Doubles!! I had not read either of these before; I loved the Robinson and liked the LeGuin. Was pleasantly surprised by the inclusion of a KSR story I'd read before - something about the Rainbow Bridge - which was still fun the second time through.
(56/250)
The Way the Future Was, by Frederick Pohl
This was totally charming and funny and fascinating 95 percent of the time. Ok, the other 5 percent was occasionally a bit tedious - but it was tedious in ways I'd been expecting and didn't mind, so that was alright.
(57/250)
Bridge of Birds, by Barry Hughart (reread)
I remembered this as funnier and less moving. Still delicious, either way. Chinese setting, fantasy with humorous touches and lovely imagery.
(58/250)
Native Tongue, by Carl Hiaasen
This started pretty typical-thriller-that-thinks-it's-funny, but then it turned out to actually be funny! And exciting! And satisfyingly characterized with lots of rants. It even reminds me a little bit of Edward Abbey's novels, albeit in the echoey way and not the 'omg totally the best thing since' way.
(59/250)
These High, Green Hills, by Jan Karon
This series is soothing in the same way that Garrison Keillor and Stuart McLean are soothing. And when you have been having a very stressful couple of months and you just want something sweet and cheerful to read in the few minutes before bed, they are just about perfect for the task. That said, I am at pains to stretch out the series because I think if I tried to read them all at once they would quickly shift from 'sweet' to 'cloying'.
(60/250)
Critical Injuries, by Joan Barfoot
I was originally having a lot of trouble engaging with this book and then I realized it was because someone I love was just about to go into the hospital and large sections of it are set in .... the hospital. Duh. So I waited until all that was good and over and then tried the book again, and I'm very glad about it. A beautifully written and totally captivating book; it feels Canadian in the 'yes, this book is related to Margaret Atwood and Margaret Laurence' way. Also, not for the physically or emotionally squeamish; my best beloved was making fun of the jacket copy and said, 'come on, is it really "harrowing"??" and I realized that yes, it is, actually. Anyway, it was very good.
(61/250)
