Let’s see, there was The Telling
, read this last weekend. Possibly wasn’t in the best state of mind for it – I think Ms Le Guin does undercurrents in her work, and instead of picking up any of those, I just found it rather inpenetrable. Shame. I might try it again another time – I always think I should like her stuff more than I do.
Then there was The Magician’s Apprentice
. This one is good. Very good. I’m not sure that it connects desperately well with the ones that it’s a prequel too, but there is supposed to be quite a gap between them so I daresay the inconsistencies can be forgiven. I like the strength of characterisation in these books, and the story is pretty good too.
Then there was Chalice
. I’ve been waiting to read this for a very long time, but it’s not out in paperback yet, so I’d suggested it for the library, they ordered it and I requested it, but it hadn’t arrived. Then I stopped in to drop off the last library books we’d got and they’d got Chalice waiting for me. Well, I couldn’t resist, and as I know one of Big’s library books got packed, (not by me, I hasten to add) I’ll have to post that one back anyway…
I loved this book. I love pretty much anything by Robin McKinley, she is one of the few writers where it’s not just the story, it’s the language as well, and it reads so beautifully. It’s the kind of story you feel you’ve always known, and yet you can’t wait to read it again.
Chalice is lovely. If there are any flaws to it, it’s that it’s not a long book, which is obviously a drawback when you are wanting to savour something. Other than that, there’s nothing to complain about.
And finally, Victory of Eagles
. I ordered this one from the local library just over a week ago, I got the email last weekend saying it was in, I walked in yesterday afternoon, picked it up from the reserve shelf and checked it out myself. Took about two minutes. I’m still a little undecided about whether self service in a library is a good idea – while I like not queueing and all the rest of it, I think the children were building up relationships with the librarians in Calderdale and they won’t get the chance to do that here.
Anyway, Temeraire 5. I quite enjoyed it, although it didn’t seem to go anywhere in terms of moving the story on really, and I was unimpressed but also unsurprised to discover there will be a Temeraire 6, this time set at the other side of the world. Wonder when that is due out. Really should know better than to start reading a series that hasn’t been finished yet.
I also picked up The Transition Handbook: From Oil Dependency to Local Resilience
but so far I’ve only scanned the first chapter, so no report on that yet. Except to say that the first chapter is mainly about explaining peak oil – why does that need explaining? Isn’t it self evident?
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