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 What’s the lightest, most “fluff” kind of book you’ve read recently?
While I was in the car on the way to Cornwall, I read What Happens in London by Julia Quinn and I think that has to be my answer. It was such a fun, light, fast read that it enabled me to ignore all the noise involved in traveling and enjoy myself. It even had me laughing a few times, which prompted curious looks from everyone in the car with me.
Speaking of Cornwall, here are a couple shots of the ocean from the very edge, near Land’s End:
 It’s looking like my reading totals for August are going to be down from the past three months. I’ve finished 10 books so far and we’re halfway through, so that will leave me with 20, a fairly significant drop from 30 and 31 in June and July. I’ll be back up there in September though. My dissertation is due in completed form to my supervisor on September 3rd, and while I’ll probably have some edits to do after that, I won’t have time for the intense reworking I’m doing now. I’ve actually done most of the work already (go me!) so I have about 2 weeks just to form a conclusion from an essay I’ve already written and my own thoughts.
I’ve been feeling very nostalgic this month; it’s my last month in full-time school and I find myself missing my undergrad university and friends more than ever. I don’t like stages of transition, I prefer to be one place or another, not in between. I’m sure it’s because I haven’t been reading as much. Do you find that not having time to read as much as you’re used to reflects in your mood as well?
 Well, that brings us to what I have been reading this week. I just finished Philippa Gregory’s The White Queen last night and found myself enjoying it far more than I’d expected by the end. What got me was that even though she plays with the facts, none of it is needless or derogatory and I found it a refreshing new spin – for fiction – on a story I’ve read in various forms many, many times. Not even the magic really bothered me, because I don’t believe that anyone is going to go around convinced that Jacquetta and Elizabeth were witches. Historical accuracy only gets to me if I think people are going to believe that something wrong is true, and that’s not the case here, so I liked it. I bet that’s a surprise to many who know me – it was a surprise for me too!
 Right now I’m reading The Day the Falls Stood Still by Cathy Marie Buchanan so my mom can get a book off Amazon Vine on Thursday. It’s billed as a love story with some tragedy tossed in, set around Niagara Falls in the early 20th century and loosely based on the life of a real man. So far, it’s not earth shattering, but I like it. This brings me to another point; both this and The White Queen are written in present tense. It gives a certain feel, but I’m not sure I like it as much as past tense. It can dissolve into the story if I read long enough, but it always bugs me a little in the beginning. What do you think? Do you prefer past or present tense? What about 1st or 3rd person? Or do you not care?
That’s enough from me for now. I’ll leave you with two bits of news. One, the wonderful Michelle Moran, whose Cleopatra’s Daughter I will be reading and giving away shortly, has asked that I mention her contests. You can find details about them here. They sound exciting, and I know if I was still in the US I’d go hunting in a few of those independent bookstores. Two, you have until Wednesday to enter to win a copy of American Lion by Jon Meacham from me, and you can do that here.
Next weekend I will be in Cornwall, so expect pictures when I come back! Have a great week everyone!
 I’m going to be a little different and review these together. They are different books, but they have essentially the same overall plot seen through two different characters. John experiences different things than Zoe does, but the main events are the same and I thought it would be easier on my blog schedule to just combine!
After spending eight years on Huckleberry, John Perry and his wife Jane, a former Special Forces soldier, are recruited to help start a new world on Roanoke. Their daughter, Zoe, doesn’t have as much choice in the matter, but is completely ready herself to move on, with her two Obin companions in tow as always, since she is revered as a near goddess by the Obin race. From the moment the family and their settlers first see Roanoke, they know that nothing is going to be quite what they expected and soon they find themselves embroiled in what may be an intergalactic war. John, Jane, and Zoe must each use their special advantages in order to keep the colony alive and save all of those they love.
First of all, I just loved the way these books worked together. I am actually quite a fan of the same story told from two different perspectives, although it was surprisingly difficult for me to yank myself out of John’s head and place myself into Zoe’s since I read the books in a row. John Scalzi’s brand of prose is very distinctive and while Zoe is certainly a teenage girl (and many props to him and his female test-readers for pulling that off) I have gotten used to the idea that his writing = a man. This is one of the instances in which having a very distinctive writing style worked against the book. I got over it eventually. I loved the way that certain holes left in The Last Colony were filled masterfully by Zoe’s Tale in particular. What’s amazing is that Scalzi didn’t even plan it that way, but rather came back and thought about how things came to be from Zoe’s perspective.
The story itself is, as always, a very interesting one. More and more problems occur from almost the first pages of the books onwards as the Roanoke colonists realize just how very much trouble they’re in. Both of these books are very quick reads; they’re on the short side and it’s difficult to put them down. By now I love all the characters and I have them firmly in my head, but they still develop here. This is especially so for Zoe, who is a teenager and changing faster than you can imagine with all the pressure placed on her. She learns so much about the world but I didn’t find any of it to be too much, if that makes sense. She develops but in a more realistic way given her extraordinary lifestyle.
I love these books. I’m a little sad that we’ve left these characters behind, probably for good. I adored the entire series and I highly recommend it, even if you don’t like science fiction. I know I didn’t. These are still fantastic books, with strong characters, an exciting plotline, and plenty of laughter and emotional intensity.
The Last Colony | Zoe’s Tale
If you haven’t signed up for Book Blogger Appreciation Week yet, what are you waiting for? You only have a few days left to nominate all your favorite blogs. Head here for all the details and sign up here. In the meantime, Amy has come up with this meme for us to spread the word and share what’s great about BBAW!
1) What was the highlight (something that happened, a post, an activity, etc.) of BBAW for you last year?
Somewhat obviously for me, the highlight was definitely my nomination and win for Best History/Historical Fiction blog. I was (still am really) only a little blog and could not believe my luck. There are so many great historical fiction and history blogs out there – I feel like I discover a new one every day! I can’t wait to see who is nominated this year. You can, of course, put me up for it again, but it’s entirely your choice. 
2) What is one new blog you discovered during BBAW last year?
I must have discovered a ton of blogs during BBAW, but the one I actually remember discovering and thinking how much I liked was Lezlie’s Books ‘N Border Collies, since she was up for the same award. I was a subscriber immediately. I know I discovered a ton more, but I’m having difficulty remembering just when I discovered most blogs.
3) What tips would you share to help others get the most out of their BBAW experience?
Probably just keep up with the blog, don’t try to do everything, and enjoy yourself! It’s a blast.
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I’d also like to take a minute to apologize for my non-existence around here, on your blogs, and even on twitter lately. I’m editing my nearly-complete dissertation, planning my wedding in October, and preparing to move away from York, so life’s gone a bit busy! I’ll also be taking two road trips in the next five weeks as my future mother-in-law cycles from Land’s End to John O’Groats, so I may be a while. I’m sure I’ll be back once the MA is over and unemployment sets in (luckily right around BBAW!). In the meantime, I’ll still be posting reviews and reading. I can’t tell you how thankful I am for my review backlog right now! I’d be very grateful for your patience as I make this huge transition.
I don’t know how we got to the end of July already! I’m not complaining too much though. The next month and a half may be crunch time for my dissertation, but then it will be over and I will get married and enter the glorious world of (un)employment. I can’t get (or even apply for) a full-time job over here until we get married and I get a new visa, fingers crossed, so I’m going to have at least a month of scoping out what’s around and doing not much else. Maybe temping, because I can do part-time, but I’ve heard that the employment offices are overrun with applicants, so I’m not going to have any expectations.
In retrospect, I have had one great reading month. In the beginning of the month, I read a lot from my own collection and the library. In the second half of the month, I went home and got my ARCs, which resulted in a burst of unexpectedly fabulous reads. I think I’ve read a good variety of books, too. Because many others have been writing where they got their recent books (starting with Marie), I thought I’d do that too. Here’s how it breaks down (I hope no one minds that I just mixed the YA in with the adult reads):
Literary Fiction
- Possession, A.S. Byatt – I bought this in a used bookstore, don’t remember why.
- In the Wake of the Boatman, Jonathan Scott Fuqua – Received for review from Bancroft Press.
- Nothing but Ghosts, Beth Kephart – Bought new for online book club and for My Friend Amy‘s book drive.
- The Cellist of Sarajevo, Steven Galloway – Borrowed from library on a variety of recommendations.
Women’s Fiction
- Last Light Over Carolina, Mary Alice Monroe – Received for review for a blog tour.
- Every Last Cuckoo, Kate Maloy – Received for review and for an online book club.
- Secrets to Happiness, Sarah Dunn – Received for review.
Historical Fiction
Fantasy/Sci-fi
- The Last Colony, John Scalzi – Bought new to continue a series.
- Zoe’s Tale, John Scalzi – see above.
- Doomsday Book, Connie Willis – Bought used because it sounded good.
- The Blade Itself, Joe Abercrombie – Borrowed from the library because of buzz on twitter.
- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, J.K. Rowling – I have two copies of this, both bought new, one paperback and one hardcover. I basically killed the paperback by reading too much and now I read the hardcover.
- Naamah’s Kiss, Jacqueline Carey – Received for review from Hachette after the wonderful Miriam Parker discovered I was interested.
- Iron Kissed, Patricia Briggs – Bought new to continue a series.
Historical Romance
- To Catch an Heiress, Julia Quinn – Borrowed from the library in a mission to read Julia Quinn’s backlist.
- To Beguile a Beast, Elizabeth Hoyt – Received for review from Hachette.
- The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie, Jennifer Ashley – Received for review from Dorchester.
- This Duchess of Mine, Eloisa James – Bought new to continue a series.
- A Hint of Wicked, Jennifer Haymore – Passed on from the wonderful Keira at Love Romance Passion.
- Highland Rebel, Judith James – Received for review from Sourcebooks.
Nonfiction/Memoir
So, that’s
- 15 books for review
- 6 books from the library
- 5 books bought new
- 4 books bought used
- 1 book from another blogger
I said I was going to slow down my reading this month and I completely lied. What I really wanted was more fantasy and sci-fi, which I was able to fulfill without slowing down my reading pace. I read 31 books, the most ever. Slightly less than half of those books were sent to me for review. I don’t think that’s typical; I normally read more of my own books. I read more this month simply because they gathered at home and I owe a lot of reviews, so I’m doing my best to dispense my obligations. My blog would undoubtedly exist just fine without review copies; I’d have posted the 19 reviews of my own and library books which are sitting in the queue! I probably would have written the 7 I have left as well. Have I mentioned that I read too much yet?
Today, I’m looking forward to continuing The Russian Concubine by Kate Furnivall. It hasn’t totally clicked for me yet, but I hope it will soon since I have one of its sequels for review. And I’m really looking forward to my online book club tonight, when we’ll be discussing Nothing But Ghosts by Beth Kephart, a seriously wonderful read.
What’s the funniest book you’ve read recently?
This is an easy question. This month I just so happened to read Bonk by Mary Roach. I didn’t expect it to be as funny as it was, but I certainly giggled my way through the book. I’m not sure why I didn’t realize that it would be funny, given its subject matter, but Mary Roach is a hilarious writer. Probably the second funniest would be First Comes Love, then Comes Malaria by Eve Brown-Waite. It wasn’t laugh-out-loud funny (books rarely are for me) but I was certainly amused. In a different month, I would have had a much more challenging time answering this question, because I don’t normally read laugh-out-loud funny books. Bonk is actually the funniest book I’ve read all year. Sometimes they are amusing, but rarely that amusing.
What about you? Do you read books that make you laugh?
I have been reading a lot this week; I’m happy about that but my dissertation chapter is definitely not progressing the way it should be. I haven’t managed even a thousand words this week and I’m only about half done. Regardless, I’m home for another week and hope to both finish it and get through a number of review copies before I head back to York. I was tempted to reread the entire Harry Potter series, but decided against it in the end. I really wanted to do a reread before seeing the new movie on Monday, but I don’t have time.
I’m still reading fantastic books, though. At the moment, they are Twilight of Avalon by Anna Elliott and Pope Joan by Donna Woolfolk Cross. I’ve heard a lot about Twilight of Avalon and when I met Anna Elliott over on the Historical Fiction Online forums, I knew I really wanted to read her book. When she offered me a review copy, I was absolutely thrilled and I’m about halfway through the book and loving it so far.
 I’ve only just started Pope Joan but I have an exciting opportunity to announce. If you buy a copy of the new and updated Three Rivers Press/Crown Publishing edition of Pope Joan by the end of July, or if you have already, you can send in your receipt to have a chance to win a walk down the red carpet for you and a friend at the movie premiere with the author and her family! You can see all the details and head to the contest here.
I also have a copy of Pope Joan to give away here at Medieval Bookworm in celebration of the book’s new release. Better yet, the author will inscribe the book to you (or whoever you’d like) and ship internationally! To enter, first leave a comment on this post telling me why you’d like to win this particular book. For additional entries:
- +1 Tweet or blog about the giveaway OR the red carpet contest with a link back to this post.
- +1 Comment on my review post later this week.
- +3 Become a subscriber or tell me that you are already a subscriber!
Don’t forget to tell me that you’ve done these things with links or I won’t be able to count them! This giveaway will be open until Sunday August 2nd. The winner of this contest is Blodeuedd.
Good luck both here and on Donna’s red carpet contest! And I hope you are also having a great reading week!
Follow-up to last week’s question:
Do you keep all your unread books together, like books in a waiting room? Or are they scattered throughout your shelves, mingling like party-goers waiting for the host to come along?
I’ve always kept all of my unread books together wherever I am. I don’t know why; I just think they should be separate! When I was younger and had a tiny TBR stack, I used to keep it on my bed next to my pillow since I didn’t have a nightstand. That way I could just grab whatever was next. I ran out pretty frequently in those days! Then it migrated to next to my bed because it kept falling over. And then it moved across the room and multiplied because I couldn’t get to my bed anymore! Now I have a mountain range along the side of my room. I don’t have space on the shelves for the books I read, either, so they go in stacks next to the bookshelves. This is in my parents’ house. I’m not sure how things are going to go when I move in with Keith later this year given that he has no bookshelves, but we’ll figure it out somehow. Regardless, reads and unreads are always separated. I like to see what I have to read at a glance!
Do you mix up your reads and unreads or do you separate them like me?
As we speak, I’m in the air over the Atlantic Ocean, heading back to the United States for a brief visit. Of course, I don’t entirely get a holiday, as I’m meant to finish my third dissertation chapter before I get back, but it will be nice. Meanwhile, I have to find a way to occupy myself on the flight over. Plane reading is always something I deliberate over. Do I want to bring something light and entertaining, or something a little more difficult since I’m a captive audience with no access to the internet? I tend to bring a variety, although I seem to have gone more in the direction of purely entertaining lately. Here’s what I have with me this time:
- The Thorn Birds, Colleen McCullough
- The Luxe, Anna Godbersen
- Flint, Margaret Redfern
- Shadow of Colossus, T.L. Higley
What kind of books do you bring with you when you travel? Or do you occupy yourself in other ways?
An idea I got from The Toddled Dredge (via K for Kat). Here’s what she said:
“So here today I present to you an Unread Books Challenge. Give me the list or take a picture of all the books you have stacked on your bedside table, hidden under the bed or standing in your shelf – the books you have not read, but keep meaning to. The books that begin to weigh on your mind. The books that make you cover your ears in conversation and say, ‘No! Don’t give me another book to read! I can’t finish the ones I have!’ “
I just posted photos similar to these recently, but there’s no harm in putting them up again! This is only a tiny fraction of my total TBRs. Last I counted I had about 60 here. In total I have listed on LT here 337 if you’d like to take a look and scold me about what I haven’t read and totally should (please do, those piles are intimidating!), but that doesn’t include all the books that have arrived at home since I left. I’m sure I’m not alone with my TBR mountain range though!
Here are my shelves (including my DS, PSP, and a couple of PC games if any of my readers are gamers):
  And my little TBR pile, which are supposedly the books I’m reading next.
 I haven’t been doing so well with the little TBR pile. At least it feels that way; I read 6 books that weren’t on it last week! Now I’m just hoping to finish the two I’m reading before tomorrow night so I can take a couple off the top for my trip. My reading at home will be all ARCs. I’m not going home again for six months, but my parents are coming to visit me somewhere in between, so I’ll definitely be supplementing these 60 with books from my huge stacks there.
Do you have crazy unread piles too?
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