Lily Fairbairn
Half-elven
May 7, 3:59pm
Views: 69623
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It's the occasional reading thread!
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A moment of silence for our beloved Bernard Hill. Westu hál. Ferðu, Théoden, Ferðu. On paper I've read a mystery titled No Strangers Here, written by Carlene O'Connor. She's done a lengthy cozy series set in Ireland, but when I read one of those I was underwhelmed. Then I saw that this is the first in another, more serious, series, and, well, Ireland. However, there's not a character here who isn't either wallowing in his/her own misery or who isn't causing misery to others. I ended up reading the last half of the book by turning over about five pages at a time, just to see whodunnit---and don't feel I missed a thing when I got there. (This book may be from a major publisher, but it's yet another publisher who's give up on editing). Now I'm reading a much better book on paper: Ten Tomatoes That Changed the World, by William Alexander. Alexander is witty and informative, using the history of the humble tomato to explore culture, cuisine, economics, and much more. I read another work of fiction, this time as a library ebook: The Decagon House Murders, written by Yukito Ayatsuji and translated from the Japanese original by Ho-Ling Wong. This mystery is an homage to Agatha Christie's classic And Then There Were None, which is referenced several times. I was interested in the Japanese aspects of the story, but don't think the mystery plays out as well here as it does in the Christie novel. I have a paper copy of Ayatsuji's second novel, The Mill House Murders, and am hoping that his sophomore effort is a bit more original and cohesive. But it will be a while before I get around to it. Speaking of Agatha Christie, I've also listened to Miss Marple: The Complete Short Stories, read by the superb Juliet Stevenson. These are enjoyable, briskly written short mysteries which are dated in many ways. But then I find the dated-ness adds to the entertainment value. Right now I'm listening to John Eyre: A Tale of Darkness and Shadow, by Mimi Matthews. The title alone makes it clear that this is a gender-reversal re-telling of Charlotte Bronte's classic Jane Eyre, very cleverly done in multiple ways. I saw a spoiler in a review, and can't help but wonder how soon I would have picked up on one major (but well set-up) change to the story if I hadn't. I'm also still listening to Alexander the Great: His Life and His Mysterious Death, by Anthony Everitt. Alexander is now poised to invade India, but his own followers are growing restive after years of campaigning---and after Alexander begins seeing himself as an autocrat like the Persian kings he defeated. So what have you been reading?
Where now the horse and the rider? Where is the horn that was blowing? Where is the helm and the hauberk, and the bright hair flowing? Where is the hand on the harpstring, and the red fire glowing? Where is the spring and the harvest and the tall corn growing? They have passed like rain on the mountain, like a wind in the meadow; The days have gone down in the West behind the hills into shadow....
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