Three more books

[firstfrost]

# are ebooks

#Black Ships (by Jo Graham)

A measured and thoughtful retelling of the Aeneid, which I did not actually really know the plot of. lillibet recommended Jo Graham, and I thought I'd start at the beginning. A good story, told well, with lots of character; a pleasant time rather than an exciting epic, but I'd definitely read more of her work. I liked the way the gods were portrayed - everyone believes in them, but there isn't a lot of evidence for anyone but the priests and oracles. The gods meddle, but the story is still about the people, which I like. Three and a half stars.

#The Serpent Sea (by Martha Wells)

The sequel to The Cloud Roads, which I really liked. Less horror-ish bits than the first book, more exploration-ish bits, maybe not quite as strong but still fun. Four stars

The Night Circus (by Erin Morgenstern)

This was a Christmas present from tirinian and it was perfect. I started reading it yesterday, and I did not stop until I was done. The plot has dueling magicians in it, kind of like the Prestige, though it's not a very thick plot, but the part that grabbed me by the heart and wouldn't let go was the circus itself. It's everything I'd ever imagined a circus/carnival to be, but more, but magic. Like the Archetypical Magic Antique Shop, full of esoterica no one has ever seen before, or the Archetypical Book Store, shelves and shelves of books that when you crack them open, they're the stories you've always wanted to read. When I was eight, the library was like that. When my nieces visited the Children's Museum and Isabelle saw the three-story climbing structure, it was like that. Places that are more than you could ever imagine, when your imagination is still young and full of stars and wonder. I so want to visit, I had a hard time sleeping, and I am not usually prone to fits of wild longing. I deduct half a star for the ending not being as perfect as the rest of the book, but even so, five and a half stars. Read this book. Dream of the circus.

Comments

[marcusmarcusrc.livejournal.com]

Erin Morgenstern? Any relation to the great author S. Morgenstern, of Princess Bride and the Silent Gondoliers fame?

Also... since when has your rating system gone up to 6??? Anyway, hold placed at the library... looking forward to reading it.

[firstfrost.livejournal.com]

I was wondering if they were related too! The Princess Bride has that same aspect too - everything you'd ever wanted in your fairy tale adventure, but more so - though it's more about plot and less about setting and atmosphere.

I've given a few other things more than five stars - Pandora's Star got five and a half, and Gone-Away World got six. As did Briar King. But they have to blow me away. (I wonder if I am somewhat scant with five stars because of that? Every so often I think I should go and plot my ratings to see what they say). But it still is officially "out of five stars" :)

[kelkyag]

Gone-Away World was really marvelously put together.

[arcanology.livejournal.com]

Wait, Mr. Space Trains got more than five stars? I'm horrishockified!

[firstfrost.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I remember you not liking the Space Trains as much as marcusmarcusrc and I did, though I cannot figure out where the discussion happened. :)

[arcanology.livejournal.com]

Well you were pretty much right about your other more than five stars, though I don't think I loved them quite as much they were still well worth buying. Although the later episodes of the Briar King just went... actually I read them all can't can't really remember how they just went.

[arcanology.livejournal.com]

I just went and bought it, because over five stars.

[marcusmarcusrc.livejournal.com]

Yeah. I should probably buy more books that I'm excited by, in order to encourage to authors to write more... and my argument that I don't need more stuff in my house (even books) could be slapped down with donating my books to the library when I'm done with them (or getting them on Kindle)... and yet, I get an odd pleasure out of patronizing the free bookstore...