oh so very tired

I really should be making things tonight, I’ve got PIFs to do (I have a plan 😉 ) and SS to think of and the normal ordinary S creeping up as well, and instead I’m going to do a couple of quick book reviews and go to bed.

At the weekend I read Dragonhaven and The Lion Tamer’s Daughter as purchased from Amazon with my voucher. Lion tamer’s daughter is quite a short book, and more aimed at children/ teens I would guess, but still very nicely put together, and although in some ways it feels a little predictable, it’s not so predictable that you want to give up on reading – you want to know precisely how it pans out. I wouldn’t hand it to an easily scared youngster – Big won’t be getting her hands on it for a little while, but then again, I think she’s younger in more than years than the target audience I think.

Dragonhaven was just wonderful. As I have raved on many occasions, I relatively recently started to read Robin McKinley’s blog and Dragonhaven is written in some ways more in that style, it’s conversational, direct, right at you, as well as having almost footnotes as you go. The story itself is a good twist on dragons, not your average fire breathing sage beasts in a cave in this version, but then again, when has Ms McKinley ever done anything average. I adore her work, my only problem is that there’s not enough of it, but her blog is almost as worthwhile as a book (though not quite). I think this one rockets right up there with my original favourites The Blue Sword (Orbit Books) and The Hero and the Crown (oh dear, so glad I don’t put images in links on this blog, that cover art is terrible! They don’t seem to have a piccie of the one I’ve got). Oh, and the main character is homeschooled, as is mentioned a time or three – it’s set in America so we’ll forgive the terminology (won’t we 😉 ).

Tonight I’ve polished off a book I recommended to Big. She’s brought it downstairs on her go back to the library pile, I haven’t asked her if she’s read it. I suspect she may have started it and found it rather boring, as when I’ve read it, it doesn’t seem something that would appeal to her at all. It’s quite a slow story, though enjoyable and beautifully crafted, you wouldn’t expect any less of Ursula Le Guin really. It was Gifts and I am wondering if there are any sequels, as it did feel a little unfinished, shall we say, though not abruptly so.

And with that, I’m off. Humpday wednesday and downhill to the weekend, I’m sure I can make it, honest.