More Books

[erastes]

Not at all well today so spent most of it in bed. Hence a lot of reading:

I just finished:

Jade Throne and Black Powder War (Temeraire series)

After saying that I probably wouldn't read the rest, as you can see, I did. I'm still not in lurve with Laurence but I admit being totally in love with Temeraire. He's just such a "Jacobin" - and I suppose the American voice of the author coming out, preaching freedom to a Regency world as the American Colonies are forming their own world.  However I was delighted with the baby fire breather who is just gorgeously bloodthirsty in almost a Fred Quimby/Tom and Jerry way - "LET ME ATTEM!" and poor, darling Granby, who is quite my favourite human in the series, hanging on to her with desperation and obviously a little worried about how he's going to manage her. I adore that she's not much bigger than a large dog and willing to take on five dragons bigger than Temeraire all by herself.  And Tem says "I wasn't so silly, even when I was little" and Laurence declined to answer.... Also found it amusing that Temeraire had been "subverting" the eggs in the shell, and they are worried what kind of ideas he'd put in their heads. This was rather short sighted of them, I thought. Laurence KNEW that the dragonets learn in the shell, and there was much he could have done before hatching but didn't.

Also read Anansi Boys - which - I have to say, was - after Underworld my favourite Gaiman book so far. It's not a Keeper, but I enjoyed it. But please! Will someone tell Neil that he's got to STOP writing the same hero over and over and over? Bod is Fat Charlie is wossit from Stardust and Neverwhere.  Passive characters with no discernible character of their own. ymmv.

Comments

[wildestranger.livejournal.com]

Iskierka is hilarious, and Granby becomes more and more delightful as the series goes on. What did you think of Tharkay? I'd say the rest of the series are worth reading just for what happens with him. :)

[erastes.livejournal.com]

I found Tharkay rather lovely - and was happily slashing him and Laurence in my head, even though L would never do anything like that!

I shall look forward to the rest of them - and I so love Granby.

[wildestranger.livejournal.com]

Indeed. It gets slashier as time goes on. *g* And I like to slash Tharkay/Granby/Laurence, with Tharkay and Granby moaning about Laurence being a noob and forcibly seducing him. But that could be just me.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Sounds good to me!!!

[m-barnette.livejournal.com]

And people wonder why I don't love Gaiman....

Speaking of dragon eggs, how did those four blacks you had work out? Did you get that alt you wanted?

[erastes.livejournal.com]

No, sadly they were all normal blacks and I had to abandon them - hope they all found good homes!

[mzcalypso.livejournal.com]

I do admire Gaiman's ability to write another culture--there are no descriptions in Ananasi Boys, and you aren't absolutely certain of Charlie's race until quite a way into the story.

Many writers write the same character in most of their books--Dick Francis and PG Wodehouse are the first that come to mind (though once PGW got Jeeves right, he broke the mold). Gaiman's Everyman does seem to be inordinately passive, though. Perhaps that speaks to a lot of people. It doesn't to me; if I'd been in Charlie's shoes I'd have given his brother a sock in the chops. But developing a backbone is a good idea, and maybe that's what Gaiman's lesson is. He's a bit like Jane Austen to me--I can see the talent there, but the worlds he paints are so irritating I don't feel any need to revisit.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Yes, that's how I feel about him, I am impressed with what he does, but it just doesn't speak to me on any level at all. It's odd.

[lilian-cho.livejournal.com]

I haven't finished Black Powder War, but I was tickled pink by the dragon masturbation scene =D

Laurence: Did you like your bath?

Temeraire: Mmm, the rocks were nice. SexyDragonLady was better though.

Laurence: ...non sequitur?

Granby: OMG WE CANNOT USE THE LAKE WATER FOR DRINKING.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

That was brilliant - Granby was much quicker on the uptake than I was!

A bit daft, really - I mean look at what fish do in water!

[aunty_marion]

I'm waiting till I have spare money (don't think I've won the lottery tonight - must check, though) to buy the rest of the series. I've only got the first two.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Libraries are a wonderful thing!

[aunty_marion]

Not our library... *is sour*

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Well, not mine either, really, as it is the size of two shoeboxes put together, and I have to pay 55p a book to get them transferred from other branches, but still cheaper than buying a book I might not like. Although you will like the 2nd and 3rd books though, I'll wager.

[leni-jess.livejournal.com]

The dragons are better done than the people, but I'm still fond of Laurence. He's so stuffy and old-school honourable, but he loves Temeraire far more than he loves regulations, and it's fun watching him wriggle on the horns of his dilemmas.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Laurence definitely improves, and his honour is lovely to see - I hate how it makes Temeraire miserable at times, though.

[kittymay.livejournal.com]

I hope it wasn’t the Tom Cruise remark that made you feel ill - you seem to have had more than your fair share of late, and without a single drop of snow!

Be better soon !

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Rotten cold. Sore throat, cough, sneezles. Just boring stuff - but thanks hun!