The Great Guy Gavriel Kay Read continues with The Lions of Al-Rassan! @johannaelf.bsky.social and @drerinnerung.bsky.social join The Nerdwriter and me to discuss this gorgeous story by @guygavrielkay.bsky.social . Link to vid in reply.
The cover of a book of poetry by Li Shangyin, with just text on a peach-colored front cover
I usually really enjoy Tang poetry, but this was harder and didn't work as well for me. Found a few things to like. 3 stars.
My brief thoughts are here: inspeculation.blogspot.com
Short version: lots of unfamiliar allusions and terse, elliptical language. Pretty tough going.
A stack of mostly older hardcover books.
My finds at “Books On 7th Avenue,” in Phoenix. I had only been there once, maybe a year ago, and couldn’t remember the name of the store or what road it’s on… 😄 They tried to make it easy for me, too.
The cover of the book shows Doc Savage holding his throat while blue lightning flashes in the background.
About what you would expect for old pulp fiction. Some fun to be had. Nothing amazing. 3 stars.
My brief thoughts are here: inspeculation.blogspot.com
I'll keep reading these books, about one every year or so, for nostalgia's sake. More vibe than fun--and that's fine.
The cover of Red City, showing a winged lion in black on a red background, with the LA skyline at the bottom.
4 stars. Very fun.
Dangerous alchemists working in criminal syndicates to get very rich in a slightly altered version of earth--pretty cool idea.
My brief thoughts are here: inspeculation.blogspot.com
Recommended. Waiting to see what sequels have going on.
The cover of one edition of Le Cid, showing two Spanish noblemen in ruffs and hose, drawn in line art.
My first time reading Corneille. I liked it. This is the love story of Rodrigue before he became famous as El Cid (or Le Cid, as the French had him).
My brief thoughts are here: inspeculation.blogspot.com
Pretty fun. I'm looking forward to more by this famous 17th century dramatist.
The cover of the book "Everything is Tubercolosis," with a zoomed-in red drop in the center showing bacteria in blood.
This is as well-done and important as anyone else has made you think. Highly recommended. 5 stars.
My brief thoughts are here: inspeculation.blogspot.com
Short version--we could save more than a million people a year, and save money in the long run doing it, if we cared enough to just do it.
The cover of Sand's "Miller of Angibault," showing a rustic farm scene with a woman in the middle, facing away, her floppy hat prominent in the center.
I liked most of this. Some good characters and an enjoyable story. I kinda hated the FMC's love interest, and thought she would, too, but she gave up everything to stick with the anti-money guy. Oh well.
My brief thoughts are here: inspeculation.blogspot.com
I still like George Sand. 3.5.
The cover of the novel "Who Will Remember," with the title and author printed over an old church bell tower shown from far below, dark skies behind.
This series does not miss. Great characters, great Regency setting, excellent mystery and pacing...
5 stars.
My thoughts are here: inspeculation.blogspot.com
These are all recommended. The next title is on the way soon--I can't wait. 🙂📚
The cover of Manifold Space, showing something like a spacelab against a black background, with shimmering tendrils of light at the top and bottom.
I love science fiction with big ideas, and this book has that, but it's also a drag to read. 3 stars.
I kept thinking it was about to get fun at any moment and it just didn't. Still, others love it, so who knows?
My thoughts are here: inspeculation.blogspot.com
Not for me.
The cover of "West of Dodge," with a painting of cowboys on horses headed away and down a scrub-covered hill, toward a distant ranch.
This book of short stories is good fun. 4 stars.
I'm not really a big western reader, though I enjoy it sometimes. I like that these stories are very much like the longer form--complete, satisfying, engaging, and entertaining.
My brief thoughts: inspeculation.blogspot.com
(One of Jon's books.)
The cover of "One Night for Love,"with letters on a mostly white background. A single locket on a chain is the only image.
The third book I've read by this author. I read them in exactly the wrong order, but I've enjoyed them all. 4 stars.
My brief thoughts are here: inspeculation.blogspot.com
Those more familiar with the genre--who is the author you think is most similar to this one? Please advise. 🙂
Thanks.
Blue sky and white clouds behind mesquite and ironwood trees.
It’s was too warm through March, but this is a beautiful spring day in Arizona. The pale violet blossoms on the ironwood tree are definitely best enjoyed in person.
😄 A year in New Zealand would be fun.
Have you seen the story about Stephen Colbert and the planned movie?
The illustrated cover for Enchanting the Fae Queen, by Stephanie Burgis, shows a mischievously grinning woman with long blonde curls, a moonstone crown, a pink dress and bare feet, sitting perched in a tree teasing the uniformed general who stands before her, his expression determined and one of his hands around her closest leg while she pokes his strong nose with one finger. Vines of leaves sweep magically out from the tree around her to draw him towards her. The tagline reads: All’s fae in love and war. The text beside and below it reads: The sight ahead lifted her spirits immediately. Colorful ribbons made of sparkling magic floated through the sunlit air above three improbably large, gauzy tents made of spider-silk. Their doors were all drawn open in invitation—and a glittering flood of fae of all descriptions came flying, crawling, and stalking in and out of them and across the wide, flat field beyond like a parade of magical delight and wonder. Tiny sprites with iridescent, insectile wings darted through the air above slime-covered, dagger-toothed swamp fae and past giant, striding figures whose watchful dark eyes peered out at the world from behind their branches of abundant red and gold leaves and dangling acorns. It had been so long since Lorelei had been able to attend a proper fae festival! She’d almost forgotten the thrill of so much gathered wild magic charging the air, like a wildfire just waiting to be lit.
This week's Sunday snippet comes from Enchanting the Fae Queen, which is out in ebook, paper, and audiobook:
stephanieburgis.com/books/enchanting-the-fae-queen
#romancelandia
Anybody recognize theses calls? This is only half of them. I can’t see him, but I hear him… or her… 😄
The best thing about the book is this cover--and that's not even the edition I had.
My brief thoughts are here: inspeculation.blogspot.com
3 stars. I found a little to enjoy, but it was tedious through long stretches. Maybe I'll like one of his other titles more.
Mildly recommended. It's short.🤷
JKR—bravely misgendering women. 🤬 What a horrible f’ing person.
The cover of one version of Timon of Athens, with an inset showing a peasant sitting with a book on the ground.
Really, the best part of this is when Timon is cursing Athens in very specific, angry, shocking ways. It's horrifying, but also a little Pythonesque in its excess.
But I didn't love the play. He deserved his fate because he was too generous? 3 stars.
My brief thoughts: inspeculation.blogspot.com
The cover of Jane and the Canterbury Tale, showing an inkwell and a quill pen in closeup on a desk.
First read this many years ago. Still love it. Maybe more.
My brief thoughts are here: inspeculation.blogspot.com
Great mystery, great writing. Ideal for lovers of Jane Austen, but all historical mystery readers should check this series out.
5 stars. Having read it twice, I guess it's a 10.
Copies of books by Dumas, Kipling, Agatha Christie, Robert Louis Stevenson, and William Johnstone.
Today’s finds at the antique shop—all for about the price of one new hardcover. I felt like a hunter gatherer in there finding really good stuff in some hidden valley. Now I’ll tell the story around the campfire… 😄
Sigh. I lied. I said earlier I get wildly self-conscious and can’t listen to online discussions of my work, but @philipchase90.bsky.social and his three colleagues just had such a thoughtful, deeply affectionate (long!) discussion of ARBONNE. Thanks to all of you.
youtu.be/ykkgiO1PMlE?...
An image of the book "The Ivory Mischief," a hardcover that is all over red except for the title and design on the spine.
A 1940s-era book I'd never heard of until I found it in the used bookstore--but I should have. This is long, beautiful, 5-star novel is about rich sisters in 1600s Paris.
My brief thoughts are here: inspeculation.blogspot.com
This is essentially a true story about real people. I loved it. 👍
The doctor’s office was about five minutes from the bookstore, so the day turned out pretty good after all. 😎
The saxophone?
CONGRESSWOMAN RASHIDA TLAIB ENDORSES KAT ABUGHAZALEH
Representative Tlaib’s endorsement means so much to me personally. She’s set a true example for what it means to be deeply rooted in transformative progressive values that never compromise.
I hope to join her in 2027 as the only other currently elected Palestinian in Congress!
The cover of Dan Brown's "Inferno," showing some kind of a map with a medallion of Dante's face in the center, and a torn section of the map revealing a photo of the Duomo in Florence--maybe sunrise? The sky is orange.
I'm a little late on this, but it's good. 4 stars.
For the angry voices out there--I also still like Nickelback, Tom Cruise, and Creed. But F JKR.
My brief thoughts: inspeculation.blogspot.com
This is a thriller, and it's a great ride from Florence-Venice-Istanbul. I recommend it for fun people.😄
😂
Cover of the novel "Mistress of the Art of Death," showing a painting of lights and darks with a person clasping their hands over and leaning their head on a skull.
The 1st in the series, though it's the 3rd I've read. Very dark, but entertaining and well-written. My thoughts are here:
inspeculation.blogspot.com
4 stars for history and mystery. Recommended.
