Is your clock fast or something?

[erastes]

Is it Midnight now? Is it? Is it, Mr Man with the pre-emptive fireworks?  No, it bloody ISN'T and I'm going to have to cope with terrified cats at Midnight, I'd like to enjoy the remainder of my evening before I get traumatised Sevvie clinging to my chest shaking like a leaf.  He's already under my chair.

I wish I'd made a list of all the books I've read, I'm sure I said I was going to do that this year, and I didn't.  It would help me remember what I particularly liked - and it's only through reading other people's posts that I remember "oh god! I read that!"  And I didn't do tags for them, either, so I can't find 'em.

However - I did particularly like: 

The Filly by Mark Probst
Gadarene by CB Potts and Tina Anderson
In Bear Country II-Barbary Coast by Kiernan Kelly
The Taos Truth Game by Earl Ganz
The Steel Remains by Richard Morgan
Only Words by Tina Anderson & Caroline Monaco(illus.)
all of the Hobb Trilogies
The Watchmen by Alan Moore
Vienna Dolorosa by Mykola Diemtiuk
Captain's Surrender by Alex Beecroft
The Erotic Etudes-Opus VI by E.L. van Hine
The Alienist by Caleb Carr
Mr Page and Mr Clive by Neil Bartlett
A Perfect Waiter by Alain Claude Sulzer
The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie
Before They are Hanged by Joe Abercrombie
Last Argument of Kings by Joe Abercrombie.

It's hard to find a favourite. Probably The Steel Remains by Richard Morgan because it breaks so many "rules" and is bloody good and Only Words by CB Potts and Tina Monaco because. GUH. it ripped my heart out and stamped all over it.

Books that disappointed: The Amazing Adventures of Cavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon, Jonathan Strange and Mr Norell by Susanna Clarke. And many others that made me go meh.

Oh and I'm thrilled that Standish made the lovely Jessewave's top ten favourite books she'd read. I'm particularly pleased because she found it darker than she normally likes but still I made the cut, despite her reading 100s in a year. *beams*

Comments

[svilleficrecs.livejournal.com]

I FUCKING HATE OVERZEALOUS FIREWORKS PEOPLE. *grumble* We always have them in my neighborhood.

*sends virtual snuggles and earplugs to your cats*

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Thanks they've all cleared off upstairs, now, bless 'em.

[svilleficrecs.livejournal.com]

Nevermind that they're illegal in my state. *grumbles more*.

I'm slightly twitchy about shit that sounds like gunfire and/or explosions - partly because I'm in a densely urban area where gun violence isn't unknown and partly because I'm within a short distance of ground zero and things going boom near my house always sends me to a bad place for a few moments before the "No, dumbass, it's just fireworks" reasserts itself.

[kittymay.livejournal.com]

I should just like to say that 'Standish' would unquestionably make my top three for the year, and that would be a hard three to choose.

I also read in huge amounts, but in short, it really was everything I had always wanted to find in the genre. I've gone back to it many times, well done you and thanks for writing it!

[erastes.livejournal.com]

How very kind - and it's wonderful that you re-read it, thank you!

[kittymay.livejournal.com]

You're very welcome. Re: the firework problemo, I find personally that it's best to wait until the neighbours (because it's always the neighbours) have consumed their customary ten bottles of rocket fuel on New Years Eve. I then tune up my violin to an impossibly high pitch and set my alarm for 7.45, which will be practice time. With all the windows open.

That'll learn 'em.

[sleveen.livejournal.com]

Oh Christ, fireworks - Lola is TERRIFIED of fireworks!!! Thankfully this year they're having them at the OTHER end of town...

Hope 2009 is as full of success and fun and good writing for you as 2008 was! WOOO HOOOOOOOOOO!!!

*lifts imaginary glass* :)

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Here people just let them off in their gardens, in the same way they do for Guy Fawkes'.

Thank you! I need WORK in 2009.

[suryaofvulcan.livejournal.com]

We've had bangs and whistles down here too - at bloody 9.30! What is it with these guys who just can't wait?

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Stupid, and very annoying. If your children want to have the fireworks, have them in the morning!!!

[zipcity.livejournal.com]

Oh, that happened here two years ago. Not only did I have terrified dogs and cats *before* midnight as well as at midnight, but horses too! Some idiot let off fireworks RIGHT next to their paddock so there was crazy panicked galloping about/almost running into fences for hours. I'm very thankful that this year everyone apparently went out and there was SILENCE all evening including midnight.

I'm glad someone else found The Amazing Adventures of Cavalier and Clay disappointing, I didn't mind it, but I was beginning to think I was the only person who didn't find it, well, *amazing*.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Hope the horses find it easier this year.

And yes. The not very amazing adventures would have been better because frankly, apart from the escape from Europe, what adventures did they have, exactly? Or was I supposed to find it ironic? And dull.

[zehavit-lamasu.livejournal.com]

Of all the people on my f-list you are the one I enjoy disagreeing about books most :D:D:D Although I am entirely in agreement about THE STEEL REMAINS and ONLY WORDS ^_^.

I really just wanted to say that I read Frost Fair (in a Frosty hotel in London) and LOVED it! Not had time to review it yet but it warmed me in all kind of ways during the dark and bitter days at the end of the year ^^.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

I was just re-reading The Steel Remains this week, and loving Ringil more than ever. He's podgy, out of shape, in a crap place, with a family who hates him - there are so many rules being broken here, specially for gay fantasy protags. (which are still rare enough)

[erastes.livejournal.com]

and thank you! I'm happy you liked it!

[dubaiyan.livejournal.com]

Sent cheeky PM xx

[aunty_marion]

Yes - I was down at friends' place in Wiltshire for New Year, and they started fireworks there at about 9pm too! Stupid twats. At least their cats aren't particularly worried about them - I think they feel as long as it's outside, it doesn't matter.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

I know. *growling* Mine aren't too bad, but Lili doesn't like the whistling ones, and Sevvies hates the bangs.