Microserfs
I’ve re-read this book quite a few times (and I reviewed it for this blog in 2006 and in 2003).
It’s a book with a lot of worthwhile things to say about creativity, family, friendship and love.
I still get a lot of enjoyment from it – no matter how dated the tech references get – the emotional core still resonates.
Pattern Recognition
This is one of my favourite books. I’ve reviewed it before on this blog (2007 and 2005).
This re-read was prompted by coming across a couple of chapters of the BBC adaptation of the story. While very well done it was, sadly, abridged. It really made me want to read the complete story again.
Talking about this book online I’ve discovered that some people don’t think it’s Science Fiction. While I’ve always read it as being a very subtle piece of alternative history I do recognize that it could be viewed as an entirely contemporary piece. However I would still argue that, if contemporary, it’s still Science Fiction about now.
Discount Armageddon
This daft, delicious piece of urban fantasy stars the ballroom dancing cryptozoologist Verity Price.
The plot is kind of mental but it’s a lot of fun.
McGuire writes compulsively readable books and heroines are always ridiculously compelling.
I prefer the Toby Daye books but I’d still recommend this one without hesitation particularly if you love urban fantasy with a twist of absurdity.
Pride and Prejudice
Despite being regarded as one of the greatest writers of english literature I’ve never had the slightest interest in reading any of Austen’s works. I find 19th Century prose hard work.
So what on earth motivated me enough to put in the effort to read this novel?
A modern day adaptation of the story told through the medium of videoblogs called The Lizzie Bennet Diaries started earlier this year on Youtube and I’ve been watching and becoming ever more invested in the story since the beginning. It got to the stage where I needed to know where the story was headed. I turned to the famous BBC adaptation from the 90s, which somehow only served to deepen my interest until eventually I cracked and started to read the novel proper.
It’s a book of subtle and sly wit with a tremendously appealing rather flawed protagonist. I still struggle with the language (which is why it’s an A- rather than an A+) but the power of the tale is undeniable. Once you hit the proposal in Hunsford you’re firmly gripped and the story isn’t going to let you go until it’s finished.
I have to admit I still find myself preferring The Lizzie Bennet Diaries as a piece of entertainment but I would definitely recommend the book. Get yourself a free copy from the internet and stick with it and you will find real rewards.
Like Mother, Like Daughter
The first of four Gilmore Girls tie-in novels. I caved in to my admitted obsession with the show and picked them up dirt cheap second hand from Amazon.
This particular volume recounts events in several early first season episodes solely from the perspective of Rory (including my favourite ever scene).
It’s an adequate read but to be honest if you’ve watched the episodes involved as many times as I have then the dialogue is burned into your brain already.
The writing is good but it’s nowhere near as compelling without the actors’ performances and, let’s be honest, this long after the show ended the book is only going to be for people who are hardcore fans.
The Last Dragonslayer
This is a young adult comic fantasy by the author of the Thursday Next books.
Jennifer Strange, a 15 year old foundling, runs an employment agency for magical practitioners. It’s all going relatively smoothly until a premonition of the death of the last living dragon causes chaos.
The comic approach in this book is so distinctively Fforde that even if you hadn’t noticed the author’s name on the cover you could tell this who the author is within a couple of pages.
I enjoyed it a fair bit – enough that I’m going to read the sequel – but it is a very slight tale.
Give it a go if you’ve liked Fforde’s other stuff.
Ashes of Honor
The latest Toby Daye book finds her using her investigative talents to find another missing teenager.
This girl is a changeling teleporter whose powers threaten to damage the physical realms of the Fay.
Another enjoyable read, with a much happier ending than the last book in the series.
Recommended for fans of the series – start at the beginning if you’re tempted.
Changeless
The sequel to Soulless finds Alexia busy with her new roles in life and caught up in a mystery when Werewolves can no longer transform, Vampires become human and Ghosts are exorcised with no apparent cause.
Chasing the cause finds her taking a zeppelin ride north to Scotland.
This is a perfectly well constructed book and I still like the lead character – I just found myself getting tired of the ‘witty’ faux Victorian banter and I had to force myself to read it to the conclusion.
Only recommended to those who enjoy the Victorian aspect of the books.
One Salt Sea
War is brewing in Faerie when the children of the rulers of the neighbouring sea Kingdom are taken and the Queen of Mists court is implicated.
Toby’s investigations gain an extra degree of urgency when her own daughter is kidnapped too.
A thoroughly satisfying read, with a heartbreaking ending.
To repeat myself once again – if you’ve read the earlier October Daye books then you really do want to read this one.
Late Eclipses
Toby finds herself under suspicion when friends and allies begin to be poisoned and she can’t prove that notorious murderer Oleander de Merelands is back and up to her old tricks.
This is another hugely entertaining entry in the series by McGuire. The main plot is very satisfying and the background plot arc grows ever more intriguing.
If you’ve read the earlier Toby Daye books – you have to read this one.