maribou | Fabric of Philosophers; Nonrequired Days; Beowulf of the Sun

Fabric of Sin, by Phil Rickman
Rickman's in good form; I thought it was lovely how he worked MR James into things and was reminded that I really really want to read more James. I like what he's done with Jane, when I sit back and think about it over the arc of the whole series; she's the most believable teenaged secondary character I've read in a non-teenager-focused novel for years and years - and it's very satisfying to watch her grow up, and become actively rather than potentially good, while still having reasonable flaws and weaknesses that sometimes irritate one immensely.
(246/250)

Last Light of the Sun, by Guy Gavriel Kay
Kay writes beautifully, and he writes about things that matter deeply to me, and I ought to love all his books, and I did love the Fionavar trilogy, but everything else I've read of his since then doesn't do much for me. It's just okay, and not what it could be. I think there's too much telling, not enough showing or dialogue? I don't know. I'm curious to read Ysabel so I can decide if I should just give up on him or if I should just avoid anything of his that doesn't have a contemporary aspect as well as a historical one.
(247/250)

Best American Nonrequired Reading 2006, by Dave Eggers
I think my love/hate relationship with Dave Eggers may have tipped far enough over on to the love side, after devouring this collection, that I will have to actually read a book he wrote, and not just edited, some day. Not too soon though, because if reading such a thing tips me back over into the hate side, I might miss out on the BANR 2007 that I haven't read yet. Everything in here felt worth reading, even the few things that irritated me. And it was so bloody eclectic! Swoon.
(248/250)

Dog Days, by Jon Katz
I have a weakness for the genre of 'nonfiction with lots of farm animals in' and it's kind of annoying because so much of it is cloying or sentimental-in-the-dumb-way or has ideas about animals that are just ... bad, that I am always afraid to try a new author in the genre. So I've been putting off reading Katz for years. Come to find out, for no reason, as he is balanced and compassionate and aware of his own non-God stature in very pleasing ways. Loving without being gooey, and interestingly thoughtful, and not afraid to say he screwed up when there is a point to it. Will have to read more of his things, yes yes.
(249/250)

Action Philosophers Giant Size Thing #2, by Fred Van Lente and Ryan Dunlavey
Why anyone would not want to read about Marx, Sartre, Descartes, Derrida, Aquinas, etc., in comic book form is beyond me. It pleases me immensely that this collection exists, and is well-made AND funny. #1 and #3 will no doubt garner similar reviews next year.
(250/250, woot!)

Beowulf, translated by Seamus Heaney
I read this while extremely sleep deprived and possibly still a little tipsy (yesterday morning) so I should probably reread it sometime when I am smarter. However, I am unlikely to ever be in such a good mood while reading it again, so I suppose these things balance out. The word choice was lovely and the story was excellent (if not particularly suspenseful, I mean, who doesn't know what happens in Beowulf?). Some of the most lovely parts seemed to be beautiful sui generis and not just because of the elegant and straightforward translation, and I confess to reading a few Old English bits aloud purely for the sound while not having a clue what they literally meant or even if I was pronouncing them correctly.
(251/250)