Well outside my usual range, but this was recommended by a wider-read and music-loving buddy, and I'm glad I took a swing at it because this was a reaWell outside my usual range, but this was recommended by a wider-read and music-loving buddy, and I'm glad I took a swing at it because this was a really fascinating look at the developments of art in the 20th century, through the lens of art music. Occasionally it got too deep into the musical theory weeds and I got lost for a paragraph, but the author noted in the opening that he had tried to keep things accessible, and largely I think he succeeded. It was particularly interesting to consider the pressures on art, from history and geography and politics and society, and how all of those push "new" art in different directions. And around the edges of the specific movements and philosophies and shifts, there is always the larger question - what is music, what should it be doing, how should we engage with it, what makes it "good" or "bad"....more
I really love this world (this city and all the vibrant peoples and cultures within it) and the characters are fun, but maaaan this book is just too lI really love this world (this city and all the vibrant peoples and cultures within it) and the characters are fun, but maaaan this book is just too long. It's hefty, and detailed, and intricate, and everyone is lying to everyone else (but some of them know the truth, and some of them know that) and perhaps if I was reading in big chunks or more quickly I could keep track of it all, but I can't, and I'm drowning in all the detail and the not knowing what's important. I still don't think I know what the plot actually is. In another phase of my life I'd just carry on for the fun of being here, but alas, here and now is not that phase....more
I learned a lot, I enjoyed reading, and Mikhail's writing is very nice. Indeed, there are two good books in here - one a biography of Ottoman Sultan SI learned a lot, I enjoyed reading, and Mikhail's writing is very nice. Indeed, there are two good books in here - one a biography of Ottoman Sultan Selim (the Grim), and one an interrogation of the minimisation of the impact of Muslim influences and agents on Western history, particularly Reformation / age-of-exploration history. I'm not convinced either was best served by smashing the two together, and the shifting between the two focuses often felt jarring or contrived. Often the connections were tenuous or general, and while the two themes offered interesting context for each other, they never really felt like they were building each other, or working together to something bigger. (The final chapter, titled "American Selim", mentioned Selim only the once in a reference that felt like a significant reach, but instead talked a lot about Muslims in general in America. I really don't know that the two are conflatable.)...more
I don't know that it's all that and a bag of chips (and not at all "the last book on novel writing you'll ever need") but it's full of very useful tooI don't know that it's all that and a bag of chips (and not at all "the last book on novel writing you'll ever need") but it's full of very useful tools for considering the overall structure of story, with a justifiedly heavy emphasis on theme and transformation....more
Setting aside 60-odd pages in. This is very cozy, very small-life-crossed-with-cliche-fantasy-adventure, but certain elements of the characters (and tSetting aside 60-odd pages in. This is very cozy, very small-life-crossed-with-cliche-fantasy-adventure, but certain elements of the characters (and their interactions) tilt a little too silly for my tastes. It also seemed to be developing quite a questy sort of plot - go here, meet this person, do this, get the next clue for the next place to go - which is a structure I really struggle with. But for another reader, this might be a fun and warming read....more
This is a big story, in a big world, with a whole lot of big concepts embodied in it. But honestly, for the first half of this volume I was almost entThis is a big story, in a big world, with a whole lot of big concepts embodied in it. But honestly, for the first half of this volume I was almost entirely lost. I'm unsure how much is my fault - I'm not a frequent comics reader, so I have trouble vibing with the episodic pacing here, and my visual literacy isn't great (by which I mean I don't always do well at gleaning information from images, especially when there are words as well; I over-emphasise the words) so I might have been missing some stuff that a reader more attuned to the medium would've picked up. But also, this felt like it was coming in hard and fast and in medias res. If it were a novel, I'd have been all over that, but as a graphic novel, I found it much harder to parse.
More importantly for the will-I-read-on question: I'm not big into eldritch horror-y stuff, and this is. No more for me, but I'm glad I had a go at this, it's a fascinating piece of creation.
Merged review:
This is a big story, in a big world, with a whole lot of big concepts embodied in it. But honestly, for the first half of this volume I was almost entirely lost. I'm unsure how much is my fault - I'm not a frequent comics reader, so I have trouble vibing with the episodic pacing here, and my visual literacy isn't great (by which I mean I don't always do well at gleaning information from images, especially when there are words as well; I over-emphasise the words) so I might have been missing some stuff that a reader more attuned to the medium would've picked up. But also, this felt like it was coming in hard and fast and in medias res. If it were a novel, I'd have been all over that, but as a graphic novel, I found it much harder to parse.
More importantly for the will-I-read-on question: I'm not big into eldritch horror-y stuff, and this is. No more for me, but I'm glad I had a go at this, it's a fascinating piece of creation....more
Noping out around 70-odd pages in. On the one hand I'm surprised I bounced off this, because Schwab is such an excellent writer. On the other hand, I Noping out around 70-odd pages in. On the one hand I'm surprised I bounced off this, because Schwab is such an excellent writer. On the other hand, I was underwhelmed by the conclusion of the preceding trilogy in this world of hers, so it's possible that her writing doesn't work for me in an epic-fantasy sort of setting. Possibly the start of this is too piece-y, jumping quickly from one character to another (one of them not even named), and few of those pieces connecting up right now. Though also I felt like the pace and intrigue substantially dropped every time we reconnected with an old main character - those were the parts where I started getting antsy. Whatever it is, this start just didn't work for me at all, and the book is massive and the text is uncomfortably small and I feel no burning desire to stick with it. Onwards....more
I was looking forward to this one for the fun title and seeing these two get their time to shine. And it came together in a mostly satisfying conclusiI was looking forward to this one for the fun title and seeing these two get their time to shine. And it came together in a mostly satisfying conclusion (though I'm getting a common theme in Shupe's work of the characters having big emotional blockers, and then not really resolving them, but deciding ~*love is worth the risk*~ and she gives it solid juice, but... maybe I'm just too persnickety and rationality-heavy to feel fully satisfied with that).
But for me it felt very shaky and occasionally half-baked along the way. Sizzling start, but then the early part felt jumpy and piecey, especially on emotional resonance (the whole point, arguably). I was never really sold on Nellie's Great Hate--it felt a bit pasted on--and Lockwood playing coy through the middle, even in his own POV, about his intentions seemed similarly flimsy. Nellie's external storyline was a late starter and seemed largely there for plot-convenience. All this combined with several instances of repetition and clunky elements makes me wish that the author had taken (or been given) a little longer to smooth this one out properly. (But gosh do I know how that goes.)...more
This was charming and satisfying and nicely written, but something about it niggled at me and prevented me from being swept away. There are strong theThis was charming and satisfying and nicely written, but something about it niggled at me and prevented me from being swept away. There are strong themes throughout looking at power, safety, consent, compromise... but I felt that they were never quite as firmly stated as they could have been, and as such I was unclear whether some of the ambiguity was the author consciously exploring elements, or unconsciously muddying things. Through the early middle, the romantic dynamic felt very man-pushy/woman-yieldy, which I found mildly unpleasant without a stronger presence of active female consent. The self-development to reach final state is rather dramatic on Sebastian's part, and very understated on Annabelle's, and I found the general overall theme of lust constantly overwhelming sensible decisions not entirely satisfying. And while the book engaged solidly with all the downsides and dangers of Annabelle's options, the ending sort of handwaved them aside for a little fairytale love-wins-the-day. I remain on edge about Annabelle's future and happiness, especially considering that the text only fleetingly engaged with the fact that "duchess" is a job, one for which women were trained from birth, and Annabelle has no trustworthy female support to assist her in the job that Sebastian is blithely sure she can learn to do. So, overall... good, but not delightful....more
A solid and spicy romance after an opening I found slightly shaky. (For a couple of reasons. For one, the heroine comes across as quite silly having hA solid and spicy romance after an opening I found slightly shaky. (For a couple of reasons. For one, the heroine comes across as quite silly having her very first conversation with her arranged fiance about the precise details of the wedding. For two, the heroine comes across as quite interfering, sitting there deciding what art she's going to hang in his office once they're married, before she's even had that first conversation with him. Now, point two turns out to have been a small mishandle - she's not bossy and interfering, she's just all about Dat Art. Point one remains kinda a bit of a plot contrivance but eh whatever.)
A thing I'm really noticing in this series is the significance of jealousy as a plot beat, and sometimes I find it rather cheap. (Like, when the dude is literally lying in post-coital discussion with the lady is a hilariously ridiculous time for him to be having a pang of jealousy about another dude that does not connect to self-reflection. But it's always about the punching, with Shupe, not about the what-I-want, and I find that sort of jealousy-manifestation kinda tedious.)
Kit remains a fave, and the Duke remains hilarious. Unfortunately there's a wait on the fourth one from my library, but I'm keen to see how it all pays off....more
Oh yes, this was much more fun. I was already predisposed to like the hero because of his introduction in the first book of the series, and the full rOh yes, this was much more fun. I was already predisposed to like the hero because of his introduction in the first book of the series, and the full realisation of him and his internal life did not disappoint (though I felt (view spoiler)[his "not the marrying type" needed a little more weight and connection, as the late-stage conflict, with his long-term conflict of self-image, which was very well developed and weighted (hide spoiler)]). And the heroine was so charmingly realised, with such a believable problem and a great arc that really left her poised to do just fine, but even better with the hero.
I will add: - lol the Duke; the title of the fourth book in this series just gets funnier as I go - for my tastes, Shupe's sex scenes are slightly too... mechanical? I'm not sure. Something! - binging her works is really showing the words and terms that she uses over and again, especially in the intimacies...more
(Just realised that somewhere in my messy last week of getting behind on all the things and slipping into a romance binge to try and reduce my mental (Just realised that somewhere in my messy last week of getting behind on all the things and slipping into a romance binge to try and reduce my mental load, I forgot to actually put the books in GR.)
Honestly, I nearly set this one aside halfway through, but I've been told the rest of the series is a lot more fun, so I wanted to get all the establishment of the characters. But good lord, Harrison Archer was enraging. He is so selfish and determined, doing what he wants regardless of what the heroine wants, that I at one point advocated for him falling into the sea and being washed away. And it made the finale fall completely flat. (Will she forgive him his latest instance of this behaviour and take him back?? I mean, it's a romance, of course she will, but honestly I was unconvinced that it was the best idea.)...more
Great fun once again; delightfully indulgent. Sometimes this one tipped over into just a smiiiidgen too silly for me, but the romance line was very stGreat fun once again; delightfully indulgent. Sometimes this one tipped over into just a smiiiidgen too silly for me, but the romance line was very strong, really bringing together two characters with wounds that need healing. (Absolutely thrilled by the introduction of the third-book characters, I love them to pieces already, bring it on.)...more
A fun little adventure! This one resonated more for me than the German-based one, though possibly that's because I know more about American cultural nA fun little adventure! This one resonated more for me than the German-based one, though possibly that's because I know more about American cultural norms / policing methods through media osmosis, and thus the differences in Kimberley's approach to policing procedures compared to Peter's were more readily apparent. But I enjoyed the characters, Billy Boyd was charming, and I really hope we get to see more of the wider American context in future add-ons....more
Very satisfying conclusion to the trilogy; honestly, I wasn't sure how she'd manage that, given the excellent correlation of magical problems to capitVery satisfying conclusion to the trilogy; honestly, I wasn't sure how she'd manage that, given the excellent correlation of magical problems to capitalism and the apparent insolubility of the latter, but the way it all came together was great. This, of course, lacked that Scholomance setting tight focus, but the exploration of the wider world was its own sort of fascinating. A great piece of storytelling all in all....more
Just so outrageously readable, strongly delivered both line-by-line and in big-picture thematics. Not quite as immaculately rendered as the first one,Just so outrageously readable, strongly delivered both line-by-line and in big-picture thematics. Not quite as immaculately rendered as the first one, but still great, and packing some massive emotional thumps. (Insert obligatory scream about the ending.)...more
A very good romance, with plot that feeds the character work and vice versa. The misunderstandings and disagreements are largely driven solidly from eA very good romance, with plot that feeds the character work and vice versa. The misunderstandings and disagreements are largely driven solidly from established character, and in any case not allowed to loiter overlong. The general prose is charming and sprightly, and the political economy discussions are deftly rendered. (And if they're perhaps not entirely in keeping with accuracy to the characters' stations, so what? It's fun and interesting.)...more
Continuing my romance binge, part holiday reading, part idle research for a future project... And this (I'm told) is a classic of the genre, and I canContinuing my romance binge, part holiday reading, part idle research for a future project... And this (I'm told) is a classic of the genre, and I can see why - it's a big, bold take on the "rogue healed through the power of love" concept. It's also a bit dated, in some of the language it uses, in the approach to some elements, and - I suspect - in the very way it's all put together.
There is so much going on. My goodness, the scope and the timeline and the sheer events piling up. The loose threads that never get bothered with because they're not that importance, and the diverse points-of-view, and all sorts of other things.
Honestly, I got a little lost in here. The first half had interesting character work and some zany zings in the romance (like when (view spoiler)[she up and shoots him(hide spoiler)]) but the second half became a bit of a slog for me.
But that's me, and that's part of the point of my reading - to figure out what I do and don't want to do myself! ;)...more
This one's part easing into holiday reading, part research for considering-what-I-write-next... This one's part easing into holiday reading, part research for considering-what-I-write-next... ...more
Setting this aside circa 120-odd pages. I resisted trying this one for a long time because it has a couple of central elements that just Aren't For MeSetting this aside circa 120-odd pages. I resisted trying this one for a long time because it has a couple of central elements that just Aren't For Me, but there was so much acclaim - and so many people suggested I might enjoy it - that I gave it a go. And it is, indeed, charmingly and cannily written, with intricate characters, and a rich and real setting. It's just as good as everyone says! But for me, those central not-for-me things remain a problem, and I discovered a couple more not-for-me elements as well.
Known problems for me: - faeries. I overdosed on them as a teenager, and these days I can only stomach so much. I seem to have more tolerance for the "high" fae than the low, and this book starts out very much with the low, and folk tales. - epistolary format. I am extremely judgey about this. I wish I wasn't, but I just am. It's a magnificent opportunity, but also a very stern restriction, carrying all the questions of first-person (why is this person telling me this? what are they leaving out or twisting?) but also issues of the format. (When are they writing? How are they writing? Where are the tension lines in the scene related, given that they obviously survived to write it down?) So, for instance, when this book ends a scene with the characters rushing out the door to investigate something, that's a great place for a scene to end, but a ridiculous place for a character to stop a journal entry. And this stuff niggles at me. That's a me-problem.
Additional problems I had: - the niggles of real life. In the first quarter of this, there's a fair amount of dealing with the basics of living in a near-arctic setting - heating and eating. And wow, did I get antsy about this. I hadn't realised this was a problem for me, but it clearly was: every time it happened, I tensed up and wanted to put the book down. Is this because I personally hate being uncomfortable in that way and get really stressed about it? Is it because these very real concerns prod at me that I should be doing something more sensible and conducive to the support of regular life than reading? I don't know, but wow, I hate it. - Bambleby. I passionately hated him and his idle exploitation of everyone around him, and did not want to have anything to do with a romance line involving him.
So anyway, excellently written, but extremely not for me! Onwards....more