Narilka's 2017 TBR Challenge

Reserving my spot for the 2017 challenge! I'll be filling my list in over the next couple weeks. While my list will weigh heavily on the fantasy side I'm trying to mix in a couple of other genres to pretend my reading is well rounded :)

Primary
1. The Colour of Magic by Terry Pratchett (fantasy - humor) Completed 1/4/17
2. The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers (scifi - space opera) Completed 3/22/17
3. Clariel by Garth Nix (fantasy - adventure) Completed 2/2/17
4. Red Rising by Pierce Brown (scifi - dystopia)
5. This Time Together by Carol Burnett (memoir - celebrity) Completed 4/30/17
6. Good Omens by Neil Gaiman & Terry Pratchett (fantasy - humor) Completed 8/20/17
7. Killing Reagan by Bill O'Reilly (history - USA)
8. Dragon Keeper by Robin Hobb (fantasy - epic) Completed 10/27/17
9. All My Patients Have Tales by Jeff Wells (memoir - animal) Completed 1/24/17
10. The Cat, the Lady and the Liar by Leann Sweeney (mystery - cozy) Completed 3/11/17
11. Summer Knight by Jim Butcher (fantasy - urban) Completed 2/15/17
12. The Man in the Iron Mask by Alexandre Dumas (classics)

Secondary
1. The Republic of Thieves by Scott Lynch (fantasy)
2. Black Ships by Jo Graham (fantasy - historical)
3. Wool by Hugh Howey (scifi - dystopia)
4. Weekend Warriors by Fern Michaels (mystery) Completed 8/31/17
5. Zeroes by Scott Westerfeld (fantasy - superheroes)
6. Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency by Douglas Adams (scifi - mystery) Completed 10/16/17
7. Before They Are Hanged by Joe Abercrombie (fantasy - epic)*
8. The Merchant Emperor by Elizabeth Haydon (fantasy - epic)* Completed 5/23/17
9. Foreigner by C. J. Cherryh (scifi - first contact)*
10. Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne (classics) Completed 11/22/17
11. A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson (science-ish?)
12. Digital Fortress by Dan Brown (thriller)*

*Carried over from a prior TBR challenge.

What a great list! And Colour of Magic right off the bat. I read that and Summer Knight this year and loved them both. And Good Omens is a classic. Happy Reading!

The Colour of Magic seems to demand its sequel The Light Fantastic to complete the story, but I'd like to read Good Omens before I do more Discworld. I have The Lies of Locke Lamora on my TBR pile but I don't think it's going to surface this year.

>2 billiejean: Good to hear :) The Harry Dresden books really kicked it up a notch with book 3 and it sounds like #4 is going to be similar.

>3 Cecrow: I haven't picked up a copy of The Light Fantastic yet though I'm sure I will eventually. Discworld is one of my favorite series. I really enjoyed The Lies of Locke Lamora. Scott Lynch doesn't pull any punches and is brutal to his characters. Since you've done the Malazan books you should be ok with the level of violence. I did not enjoy the second book near as much. I hope the 3rd goes back to the feel of the first book. If it doesn't, I may be done with that series.

The final slot on the main list I'm holding open for a classic novel. I really enjoyed The Count of Monte Cristo this year. Is The Man in the Iron Mask along the same lines at all?

I get mixed up by The Three Musketeers series, I only know that's the first and The Man In the Iron Mask is the last and there's some in between. I think those two titles and Monte Cristo are his best-known though, so I'd probably skip those middle books myself. I vaguely remember the Iron Mask movie from the 1990s starring Leo DiCaprio, and the underlying plot seemed pretty good even if the movie was nothing special.

Ooh! Lots of good titles on your list. Good Omens and Count of Monte Cristo are two favorites. I still need to get around to The Colour of Magic and The Lies of Locke Lamora.

All My Patients Have Tales Love that title! I really enjoyed The Count of Monte Cristo when I read it a few years ago. I truly felt a part of the action and I'd even hazard a guess that any similar book you choose can not compare. That said, I look forward to your thoughts on The Man in the Iron Mask.

List is done!

C. J. Cherryh is an author I need to sample more. I liked Verne as a kid, but tried him again recently and wasn't as impressed. With Journey to the Centre of the Earth, I'd recommend doing some research on various editions/translations. It sounds like some of them are markedly worse than others.

I have issues with C.J. Cherryh. I've quit on two of her novels, and forced myself to finish one. Despite this, I have one of her books on my own TBR. I love her ideas. I just find the books seem repetitive for some reason, or maybe it is that she hits you over the head with an idea and makes sure you notice all too much.

I loved Red Rising and hope to get to the sequel soonish. Black Ships was great!

>9 Cecrow: Thanks for the tip. I'll be sure to check around to make sure I have a good translation. I had that same problem when trying to read The Odyssey a few years back too.

>10 majkia: This will be my first Cherryh.

Becky Chambers seems to be quite the popular author this year - curious to see what you think of that one if you get to it.

Good luck and happy reading! :D

>1 Narilka: Digital Fortress I thought was actually quite good. And then when I read the various books in the Da Vinci Code series I was bummed because I didn't like them as much. But Digital Fortress was most definitely a cool book.

Looks like an interesting list.

>12 artturnerjr: Thanks!

>13 DanieXJ: Good to hear. I liked Angels & Demons quite a bit, but thought he rest of the Robert Langdon books went steadily downhill, esp the last two.

You've got a couple of good'uns to look forward to!

Foreigner by Cherryh I liked a lot: the convincingly alien psychology is one of the book's many strong points.

Good Omens is one of my all-time favourites. I recently gifted it to someone, and just holding it in the shop and while wrapping it made me want to reread it right then and there. I have a feeling it might sneakily usurp my tbr plans for this year...

A short history of nearly everything is a book that I love for its tone and approach: a largely science-illiterate but entirely normal person who sets out to find out as much as possible about the only world they'll ever live in, and to find out how other people found out. It tends to dwell too much on the eccentric oddballs from the history of science, but on the other hand I have to admit that that only added to my enjoyment. It's a modern classic.

Happy challenging!

1. The Colour of Magic by Terry Pratchett



The Colour of Magic is the first book in Terry Pratchett's Discworld series. I have been reading and enjoying Discworld for many years now and this is the first time I've read the very first book. I understand why people recommend starting the series elsewhere and coming back to this one later. It reads as a series of four connected short stories instead of one cohesive novel. It is not a bad place to start your Discworld experience, it just isn't indicative of what the rest of the series will be like.

Things start off innocently enough. Rincewind, the Disc's most incompetent wizard, becomes an involuntary tour guide to the Disc's first tourist, Twoflowers, and his luggage. Forced to flee Ankh-Morpork to escape a city wide fire, they begin a traveling adventure across the Disc. Twoflowers is determined to see as much of the Disc as he can and Rincewind is determined not to die along the way. Hilarity ensues.

It was great to finally read the beginning of the series. No, it is not Pratchett's strongest work, but it definitely shows the promise of what Discworld will become in future novels. Each story gets progressively better and they are all quite amusing. There are several jokes that require prior knowledge of classic fantasy tropes to fully understand the humor. The absurdity of chain mail bikinis, adding exclamation points to names so they seem exotic and gods using mortals as game pieces to name a few. I hear The Light Fantastic directly follows this one as a sort of duology, so I plan to pick it up later this year as this book ends in a literal cliffhanger.

Rating:

I thought it was amusing, but it didn't make me run out to buy the next one and I've mostly forgotten what happened now. I remember it was a fun ride, though. It never became so goofy that it descended into outright satire, the world of Discworld actually works as a world - else he never could have gotten so many sequels out of it. I've sampled a couple of later books on audio and I'd agree they were better, but this wasn't too terrible an introduction.

Congrats on chalking up your first read of the new year! I believe I have The Color of Magic on my Kindle. One of these days I'll actually read all the $1.99 specials I've purchased.

Already done with #1! Congratulations! :D

>17 Cecrow: Yeah, I want to know what happens next but I'm not in a huge rush. I've read other Rincewind books so have a good feeling he survives ;)

>18 Carmenere: I know that feeling. That's how I purchased this one too.

2. All My Patients Have Tales by Jeff Wells, DVM



All My Patients Have Tales by Jeff Wells, DVM, is a short memoir about the early years of Jeff's veterinary practice. Each chapter relates a different story, starting off with how Jeff made it through veterinary school and on through his first 2-3 years of practice dealing with both the animals and their owners. The stories are heart warming and funny. Jeff's love of animals shines through. It was a nice, short read.

Rating:

>21 Narilka:
Right on schedule! Keep it up!

:)

I'm always tempted by books with dogs on the cover. I'm glad you enjoyed the book.

3. Clariel by Garth Nix



"A passion thwarted will oft go astray."

Clariel by Garth Nix is the fourth book publication wise in the Old Kingdom series though technically it is a prequel to Sabriel. The story is set roughly 600 years before the birth of Sabriel. The world definitely has a different feel to it. Gone is the feeling of menace and dread. In it's place you can see how the world and it's peoples have become complacent during a long period of peace. The Abhorsen is more concerned with going on Great Hunts than protecting the kingdom since there's been no sign of the Dead in many years. The current King has refused to rule and locked himself in his castle, forcing the people to fend for themselves. The Guilds have taken the opportunity to seize power and enforce their will upon the populace. The story is set almost entirely in the city of Belisaere with no mention at all of Ancelstierre.

Just as the world has an entirely different feel, Clariel is an entirely different story. It is a hero journey that goes tragically wrong. A common phrase from the previous trilogy is repeated here and takes on new meaning: "Does the walker choose the path, or the path the walker?" Clariel wants nothing more than to live a simple life in the Great Forest in Estwael. This one simple wish is denied over and over again, first by her parents trying to marry her off to a murderer, then by being caught up in the politics of the Guilds in the city and again through the wiles of Free Magic creatures. Clariel is offered little choice in any of these situations and it's no wonder it takes her down a destructive path.

It took a while for Clariel to grow on me. Having read the original trilogy fairly recently, I was used to the obvious heroism of Sabriel and Lirael so was a bit of a shock that Clariel was not like them at all. She's very self absorbed and completely focused on her dream of a simple life. Her family and society sees her only as a child of a noble house to be married off for political gain. It's no wonder that Clariel focuses mostly on her dreams even though they never come true. She ends on a dark path indeed. It's also a fun easter egg for fans to realize just who's back story we're reading.

I think this is one of those books that benefits by having read the original trilogy first. While it is an interesting story and has themes that any new reader to the series can identify with - what happens if one gives in anger and the temptation of power - by having Sabriel and Lirael's stories to compare to is what makes Clariel more poignant.

Rating:

I always read in publication order (Narnia excepted), to get the benefits like what you've described. Garth Nix I've never quite brought myself to pick up, thought I hear many positive things.

Sabriel is a fun adventure story. If you decide to give Garth Nix a try the first book can easily be read stand alone. There is no cliff hanger ending, all loose ends are nicely tied up and the other to books in the trilogy happen several years after events in book one. Here's my review if you're curious: https://www.librarything.com/review/130150844

I've been meaning to read Clariel for a while now. And I see that there is another book out, too. I got that one for my daughter's birthday.

I picked up Goldenhand earlier this week when the Kindle version went on sale for $1.99. I'm pretty excited to read about Lirael again, though I'm trying to resist temptation and complete my current book before starting it.

I can't wait until my daughter opens her book. She gets lots of books for presents, but I am thinking this one she will especially love.

4. Summer Knight by Jim Butcher



As always, Harry Dresden is down on his luck. His girlfriend has left town to deal with her newly acquired taste for blood. Harry has spent all of his time trying to find a cure for her, to the extent of being anti social, not taking clients and not being able to pay his rent. The few friends he has left are worried about him. The Red Court is gunning for him for the trouble he caused several months back. The White Council blames Harry for starting a supernatural war and is in a lynching mood. And then it starts to rain frogs. Literally.

"Okay. But if they're real?"

"If they're real, then it means something is out of whack."

"What kind of out of whack?"

"The serious kind. Holes in the fabric of reality."

Summer Knight is the fourth book in Jim Butcher's Dresden Files. Harry is back and this time he's taking on the Faerie realm. Harry's faerie Godmother has transferred his debt to the Winter Queen of Faerie. The Summer Knight has been murdered and the Winter Queen wants Harry to clear her of the crime. While it seems a fairly straight forward task, Harry knows that when dealing with Faeries there's always a catch. It doesn't take long for him to become stuck in the political squabble between the Courts.

At this point Butcher has the Harry Dresden formula down. First, establish your super powerful hero as an "ordinary" Joe. Second, beat the crap out of him. Third, keep beating the crap out of him right up to the very last minute. Fourth, end with an "all hell breaks loose" climax where the hero finds the strength he needs to save the world yet again. Poor Harry. He has to be one of the most beat down fantasy heroes I've read about. And still he always always rises to the the occasion with the belief that the world is worth saving even after all the suffering he's gone through. It is both endearing and frustrating. Endearing because who doesn't like a good underdog story and frustrating because Harry is pretty bad ass and should have a better control over his life than he seems to.

One of the things I liked most about this book is Harry finally opens up to Lieutenant Murphy. And it's about time!! He's had three books of holding her at arms length, with Murphy saving his ass and yet completely in the dark about what it is that she has been up against. This is a great stride forward and shows actual trust in their friendship, something Harry has been sorely lacking. Murphy gets one of the best scenes in the book when she takes out an evil animated tree with a chainsaw! It was awesome. Also still present throughout the book is Harry's dry wit. His quips continue to be both eye roll worthy and laugh out loud funny.

On the downside, I think I may have read this book at the wrong time. The political machinations between Faerie Courts reminded me a little too much of the political situation in the real world for me to enjoy those parts as much as I may have at another time. Still, it's a highly readable and mostly fun entry into the Dresden series. It also has one of the best battle cries I've read in a book in a long time:

"I don't believe in faeries!"

Rating:

Not a series that really attracts me, but always a fun one to read about. Four books in, based on this review I'm betting you're aiming to continue.

Yes, most likely. I like that they're all self contained and work as a good break when I want something a little different. They do build on each other so they are important to read in order but I've never had that driving need to read the next one immediately.

>31 Narilka:

On the downside, I think I may have read this book at the wrong time. The political machinations between Faerie Courts reminded me a little too much of the political situation in the real world for me to enjoy those parts as much as I may have at another time.

As I've said elsewhere, current events have colored my perception of the books I've read a great deal in the last couple of years. I don't recall that happening with nearly as much frequency in years past.

>34 artturnerjr: This is the second book I've had a similar problem with in the last 6 months. The other one I set aside after the first chapter because I just knew it was the wrong time to read it. I hung on to it though. Maybe when the world calms down I can try again.

I really enjoy those Dresden books. They are just fun.

5. The Cat, the Lady and the Liar by Leann Sweeney



Jillian Hart is at it again! There is a cat in trouble and she must help out. A gorgeous stray cat has been found by the local animal shelter and Jillian has agreed to help track down the owner, who happens to be none other than Ritaestelle Longworth, the fabulously wealthy owner of a large estate in a neighboring town. Rumor has it that there is something wrong with Ritaestelle and her family claims she's been stealing form stores around town. Ritaestelle claims someone has been drugging her and spreading lies. Before Jillian can get to the bottom of things a body turns up in the lake behind Jillian's house with none other than Ritaestelle standing nearby.

The Cat, the Lady and the Liar is the third in Leann Sweeney's Cat's in Trouble series. I am absolutely loving these cozy mysteries. The characters have grown on me to the point I feel like I'm visiting old friends. Jillian is back along with her best friend Deputy Candice Carson, step daughter Kara and new boyfriend/PI Tom Stewart. We are also introduced to the Longworth family and in the next town over. What a group of characters! It is unfortunate and completely believable that a group of people would behave so badly to towards their benefactor. Leann Sweeney knows her cats! Jillian's cats contributed greatly to the story, helping to provide clues without being overly obvious.

The mystery is well done, lots of clues and small town gossip, with nice little twists and a misdirection that kept me guessing almost to the end. It was a satisfying read.

Rating:

Now that my daughter has a sweet kitty, I'm thinking she might enjoy this book.

6. The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers



The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet is the first in the Wayfarer's series by Becky Chambers. It is also the author's first novel. The story revolves around the crew of the Wayfarer, a space ship that punches "tunnels" (wormholes) through space to connect various systems for ships to use. The Galactic Commons, this universe's version of the United Federation of Planets, is home to a multitude of species and is looking to negotiate a treaty with a potential new member, the Hedra Ka. The Hedra Ka's planet will need a tunnel punched to connected it to the GC's systems and the Wayfarer takes the job. So starts the crew's long journey to this small, angry planet.

I think Becky Chambers has created a new sub-genre, the Scifi Cozy. Seriously, reading this book gave me the same kind of feeling as reading a cozy mystery and it's the first time I remember this happening when reading a scifi book. Sometimes there are bad people and sometimes something bad happens but mostly the people good and the universe is a good place. It is a surprisingly heart warming read. Instead of focusing on the tech or a big, involved plot, this book is all about the crew and their daily interactions both on and off the ship. While the crew is mostly human, there are some interesting aliens in the mix and different takes on human types as well. There is Captain Ashby, a human Exodan; Rosemary, a human colonist from Mars and who has just joined the crew as the ship's new administrator; Kizzy, one of the ship's human techs with a super fun personality; Jenks, the ship's other tech, a human with a form of dwarfism; Corban, another human and the ship's algaeist (algae is used as fuel so very important to keep in good condition); Sissix, the Aandrisk pilot, a lizardlike species; Dr. Chef, the ship's medic and cook, hence the humanized name since his real name is unpronounceable to most other species, and a member of the Grum species; Ohan, the ship's navigator; and finally Lovey, the ship's sentient AI. There is no main character exactly as the story rotates through all nine points of view. Everyone is given their own time to shine. All back stories are slowly revealed throughout and never are you given an overwhelming info dump.

The book is an interesting commentary on society and deals with a variety of issues that are very relevant today: cloning, sexuality across gender and species, self aware artificial intelligence and what a species should to do ensure survival.

I definitely went into this book with the wrong expectations. I've seen a lot of comparisons to the tv show Firefly, which is a favorite of mine, and aside this story being about a crew on a ship I was not reminded of Firefly at all. That's not to say it was bad, because it is an enjoyable read. I was just disappointed due to my own expectations that this would be more of space adventure than it was. I kept waiting for something to happen and it never really does.

Over all, if you're looking for an action packed scifi adventure, this is not the book for you. If you're looking for a slower paced scifi story with wonderful characters and thoughtful commentary on relevant topics, then you may enjoy book.

Rating:

>39 Narilka:

Thanks for that. Sounds like something I would probably like. :)

>39 Narilka: That's good info to have. Everyone seems to compare the book to Firefly and it's been on my list to read because of that! Still seems like something I would enjoy but I'm glad to have some warning that it won't be like the show.

>41 iamFOXFIRE: Yeah, the crew of the Wayfarer are not smugglers/space cowboys. The universe doesn't have that dystopia, gritty feel. I think what was really missing for me was some sort of conflict. If you have 9 people (yes I'm including Lovey in my count) stuck together on a long voyage there's no way everyone will be happy with each other all of the time. I think this gets glossed over in favor of keeping everything very cozy. The couple of arguments that we are shown are relatively minor and not given a lot of page time. Even when they were boarded by hostile aliens it ended up as "oh they're just misunderstood let's help them" instead of a true conflict.

It's interesting that there isn't much conflict with that title. I think I might enjoy it, too.

>39 Narilka:

Don't know if you saw it or not, but Chambers' A Closed and Common Orbit (sequel to Small, Angry Planet) was nominated for a Hugo Award:

http://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-history/2017-hugo-awards/

I didn't know that. That's cool!

7. This Time Together by Carol Burnett



This Time Together by Carol Burnett is a series of anecdotes, some of them funny, some of them serious. Reading them felt like spending an evening with Carol where she talked about many topics that are important to her, from her humble beginnings in show business, to family events, to stories from her tv shows and everything in between. Carol has lived quite a life, having success in an area that was unheard of for a woman to enter back in the day: being the host and star for a comedy variety show. Throughout it all Carol has remained humble and there is a feeling of gratitude comes through in the stories. It was a delightful read.

Rating:

As a very little kid in the 70s I saw some of her show. I couldn't follow it well but wow, those adults sure looked to me like they were having fun, lol.

>41 iamFOXFIRE: I think the comparisons to Firefly is mostly because of how the crew fits together and interacts rather than focusing on the action angle or the smuggling angle. I certainly thought that, at least.

>46 Narilka: - I recently read In Such Good Company by her as well which was delightful. It was primarily behind the scenes stories. Makes me want to try and find some of the old episodes online.

Nice review! I remember watching her show, and the main thing I remember is how they all cracked up during the skits.

>47 Cecrow: & >50 billiejean: I caught reruns growing up. Some of them are worth rewatching if you can find them on Youtube :) Here's a classic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cUZhHS0PMM

>48 majkia: That comparison I could see a little better.

>49 LittleTaiko: That sounds awesome. I may need to pick up a copy.

That was hilarious! Thank you. :)

>37 Narilka: I'm not too into cozies, but that series sounds pretty cute. May have to look into it sometime. :)

>39 Narilka: Interesting. The network was worried about Firefly due to it's being so incredibly slow, so I could see where that kind of comparison would come from. And I have to say, in this case, I was kind of with the network. I know it's heresy and Firefly is one of those things, but, I just didn't get the appeal. (I watched it all, movie included.)

>46 Narilka: It doesn't surprise me, that's very much how Carol Burnett comes across, but I'm glad it's further confirmed in her writing as well! I will surely have to pick that one up some time.

8. The Merchant Emperor by Elizabeth Haydon



The Merchant Emperor is the seventh book in The Symphony of Ages series by Elizabeth Haydon. With an 8 year gap since the release of book 6 and the couple more years it took me to discover that Haydon has finally finished the series, this one has been a long time coming. I was so happy to be back in this world that I've come to love with characters that I've missed.

The war for the known world has come. Talquist, former merchant and now the Emperor or Sorbold, has two ambitions: exterminate everyone involved in the Cymrian Alliance and become immortal. With the aid of a giant statue animated by a pair demons Talquist is confident he has almost everything he needs to acheive his goals. There is just one piece remaining. According to an ancient prophecy, to gain immortality Talquist needs to eat the living heart of the Child of Time. Unsure of his name or where the child is located, one thing is certain: the Child of Time is Rhapsody's newborn son. To protect her son and save her people Rhapsody must reconcile her duties as a mother and a ruler to join the war herself, wielding Daystar Clarion, whether she likes it or not.

Now that I've finished it, I have to say I feel conflicted. I think Haydon found herself in a bit of a bind when writing this book. How much would her fans remember of the previous books? With that in mind she spends a good portion of the book giving the reader reminders of what went on before through character dialog and memories. This bogs down the books pacing dramatically. Just as actual plot is revealed another flashback would be described for a few pages. While I appreciate the idea, I think she went overboard with all the reminders as they started to distract from the story itself. This continues for a good three quarters of the book before the real story begins to move forward. Once it does, I remember why I love this series so much!

The writing is wonderful as always. All the characters I have missed are back. Each of the personalities are the same as before, with their flaws and and some fantasy tropes mixed in. Achmed and Grunthor are not given near enough page time. Achmed's scene with Tristan at the end does not disappoint! Talquist's character is fleshed out more. His motivations are revealed and he's become the ultimate sociopath villain. Rhapsody's character arc came as a surprise. I'd gotten so used to her Mary Sue ways that when circumstances force her to change, it's an unexpected breath of fresh air and completely in line as something her character would do in such a situation.

The Merchant Emperor is one of those middle books that feels like the set up for something much bigger. All of the characters have been moved to their places, the stage is set, and just as things start to happen, it ends. This is definitely the bridge between what has happened before and what is going to happen next.

Rating:

I read the first three books and left it there, never really grabbed me. Interesting how she came back after several years to conclude it this way.

I like the original trilogy enough that I reread it every few years. The subsequent books I've only read once. Maybe some day I'll do the whole series straight through, though I think you can skim half of book 7 that way.

>55 Cecrow: I just finished up the final book in the series (#9). After a mixed beginning the author did a great job of wrapping up the original story line, something that was missing in books 4-8. You could probably skip those and jump straight to the end if you are ever curious to find out how Achmed, Grunthor and Rhapsody's story ends.

I really need to get back to this list again. I keep being pulled away by shiny objects :)

9. Good Omens By Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett



As a huge Discworld fan I am disappointed I didn't like Good Omens more. This is my first experience with Neil Gaiman so maybe it was just the mesh of styles that didn't work for me? It took me a while to get into this one. Initially the jokes felt forced and it wasn't very funny. I even set the book aside twice just to see if it was my mood. After about the 60% point things picked up I began to enjoy the story.

A demon named Crowley and an angel named Aziraphale have spent all of human existence on earth. They were sent there by their respective parties to keep an eye on things and usher in the Apocalypse. When the day finally arrives they both realize that someone has misplaced the Antichrist. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse are running amok on their motorcycles. Also Crowley and Aziraphale have decided that they've grown rather fond of humans and the Earth and don't want to see everything destroyed.

The authors have some interesting things to say about society and humanity that is still very relevant today. I quite enjoyed Crowley and Aziraphael's odd couple relationship. For creatures who are supposed to be on opposite sides of this whole mess they sure had a lot in common and a nice friendship. The Horsemen were also fun and I liked how Death made a very Discworld style appearance. Adam and his friends I found highly annoying and a lot of their early dialog was inane. They did not work for me at all.

I'm glad I pushed through and finished the book. The overall premise is brilliant as are many of the comments on society. I just wish I had enjoyed it more.

Rating:

>58 Narilka:, I still intend to give it a go sometime, though my opinion will probably match yours. I'm only 'meh' on Neil Gaiman, and Discworld didn't make an addict out of me.

>54 Narilka: I've never read Haydon. I'll have to give her a look see.

ETA: Hahahaha. Amidst the massive TBR planet, I find the first one of this series. I should maybe consider it harder?

>59 Cecrow: I have American Gods in my TBR pile. I'm now iffy about even trying it.

>60 majkia: I really enjoyed the original trilogy. Haydon's world building is amazing.

10. Weekend Warriors by Fern Michaels



Nikki and her best friend Barbara are meeting Barbara's mother, Myra Rutledge, for lunch when Barbara is killed in a hit and run accident. The driver of the car has diplomatic immunity and is protected from prosecution. Myra descends into a period of deep mourning bordering on severe depression. Sixteen months later Myra is watching a news broadcast about a woman who lost her child and took matters into her own hands. Feeling inspired Myra gathers together a group of women who have all suffered and the legal system did not bring any of them justice. They form the Sisterhood and vow to right all the wrongs done against them. Drawing a name from a hat the Sisterhood begins to work on Kathryn Lucas's case first.

This book is not about romance. These women are out for revenge and nothing is going to stand in their way. There are seven ladies in total: Myra Rutledge (billionaire), Nikki French (lawyer), Kathryn Lucas (long-haul truck driver), Alexis Thorne (securities broker), Julia Webster (plastic surgeon), Isabelle Flanders (architect) and Yoko Akia (florist). They are assisted by Charles Martin, an ex-MI6 agent and Myra's current head of security. It is the combination of their backgrounds and skills that turns them into a successful team. Unlimited funding doesn't hurt either.

This was an entertaining, light and engaging read. The story is very fast paced. Main characters are given just enough background to understand their basic persona but no real depth. The revenge they enact is something I think many women in Kathryn's position wish they could do. It is a bit of a fantasy in that money is no object, they have access to any resource they could need and obstacles are relatively easy to over come. I read this on my mom's recommendation and can see why she liked it.

Rating:

11. Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency by Douglas Adams

DIRK GENTLY'S
HOLISTIC DETECTIVE AGENCY
We solve the whole crime
We find the whole person
Phone today for the whole solution to your problem
(Missing cats and messy divorces a specialty)

Dirk may be one of the most unique detectives of all time. He believes in the fundamental interconnectedness of all things. This allows him not to do any work to solve his crimes, you know such things like using fingerprint powder or collecting actual evidence, because everything leads to everything else. Yeah, let that idea sink in for a minute. And somehow Adams makes it all work. There are some genuinely brilliant bits about mathematics and the nature of space-time in this short little novel. I particularly enjoyed the solution to the problem of the immovable sofa.

So why only three stars? I think this is one of those instances where the book was spoiled by seeing the tv show first. I absolutely love the new series starting Samuel Barnett and Elija Woods and I can definitely see how the writers were influenced by Adams' work. At the end of the first season I had one of those moments where the light-bulb went off and "OMG it's all connected!" that was so cool. Since I kind of knew what to expect I think the book's ending was robbed of its impact. But it does all work, everything really is connected. Adams is a mad genius.

Rating:

>63 Narilka:, it sounds like a glowing review, so only three stars? I liked his Hitchhiker, but I understood Dirk Gently wasn't on that level. You make it sound interesting though.

>64 Cecrow: It is not like Hitchhiker at all. Not that zany, silly fun. It is definitely mind bendy in more of a Doctor Who type way. I admit I did miss some of Hitchhiker's humor which I think also impacted my rating.

>63 Narilka: I finally had a chance to watch Season 1 and after that first episode, which I watched last year, I had sort of written the series off as just madcamp crazyiness. Until I watched the rest of them. Wow. I was amazed, and loved that actions had consequences, and that indeed, everything is connected!

>66 majkia: I've just started watching season 2. Also loving it so far :)

>67 Narilka: Very glad to hear that!

12. Dragon Keeper by Robin Hobb



Dragon Keeper is the first in the Rain Wilds Chronicles by Robin Hobb and tenth in her greater Realm of the Elderlings series. While you can probably enjoy the story regardless, I recommend to have read the Liveship Traders prior to starting this book as this series is a direct follow up to those events and many things from those books are referenced with the idea that the reader is already in the know. So far there is no impact from the Farseer Trilogy at all and only one minor relation to the very end of the Tawny Man series which you can probably skip too and still understand the whole story no problem. Without further ado...

It has been many years since Tintaglia saved Bingtown and struck a deal with the Traders to protect the newly hatched dragons. Tintaglia has vanished and the Traders are having trouble with keeping up their end of the bargain. The new dragons were too old when they cocooned as serpents and born too early, hatching weak and deformed. Many did not survive their first year. Those who did are becoming a menace, hampering efforts to excavate a buried Elderling city and costing a fortune to upkeep. There is only one solution: the dragons must be relocated somewhere else. Anywhere else. A crew of keepers are hired to help herd the dragons upriver to the mythical city of Kelsingra. Legends say Kelsingra was the home of dragons and Elderlings in ages past. Does it still exist? Can dragons and keepers survive such a journey?

This book is all about setting the stage for remainder of the series. The first two thirds of the book are spent in character building and Robin Hobb is an expert at it. We are introduced to a large cast though the story is told primarily from four points of view. Alise Finbok is in a marriage of convenience with Trader Hest Finbok. Their relationship leaves a lot to be desired. She's a self proclaimed dragon expert and has dedicated herself to learning everything she can about the creatures. She negotiates a trip to visit the hatchlings to learn about dragons directly from the source. Sent with her as her secretary/guardian is Hest's right hand man, Sedrec Meldar. To say that Sedrec is unhappy about this arrangement is an understatement. While grudgingly accepting this horrible duty he decides to put the trip to good use and has a nefarious plan of his own to try and gather dragon parts as they're worth a fortune. Leftrin is captain of the oldest known liveship, Tarman. He and his crew are hired to assist with the dragon's relocation and will be loaded down with supplies for the keepers and hunters that have signed on for the journey. Sintara, also known as Skymaw, is one of the new dragons. She is frustrated by her and her kin's malformed bodies and taunted by ancestral memories of what a dragon is supposed to be. She is paired with Thymara as a keeper. Thymara is heavily touched by the Rain Wilds. Thymara grew up knowing she should not have existed, being born with claws instead of fingers and toes, and jumps at the chance to join the expedition to make her own way in the world. Great care is taken to flesh out everyone's perspectives, backgrounds, motivations and dark little secrets. In addition to the main points of view, there are around 16 dragons total, 14 keepers, the rest of Tarman's crew and a few hunters hired on to help provide food for the dragons on their trip. It seems like a lot but ended up not being that bad to keep up with.

Again, the feeling of setting the stage is greatly apparent. The pacing is very slow. Just as the plot really gets going, it ends on a small bombshell that I imagine will have great impact to the rest of the series. It was great learning more about the Rain Wilds, an area hinted at but not really encountered in depth before. My heart really went out to the dragons and their keepers. Both groups are the rejects of society. I hope this journey helps them to rise above their circumstances. But it's a Robin Hobb book so there will definitely be more hardships ahead. It's a good set up and an interesting read. On to book two!

Rating:

Sounds like she's able to keep up the quality, which is impressive when you're ten books in.

It is very impressive. Her books have not disappointed so far. Book 2 of the Rain Wilds was also great.

I finished up the Rain Wilds Chronicles. They were enjoyable but not her best work over all. It adds nicely to the lore of the world and I think I'm ready for her Fitz and the Fool series next year.

13. Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne



Journey to the Center of the Earth is the grand adventure story of Professor Lidenbrock's quest to follow a the instructions in a cryptic text that describe how one can descend to the very center of the planet via volcanic tubes originating in an Icelandic volcano. He sets out with his nephew Axel and their hired guide Hans on an extraordinary journey through the bowels of the earth that has them encountering strange phenomena and many dangers. The story is told entirely from Axel's point of view as he writes journal of the trip.

This is my first time reading Jules Verne. It was a lot of fun and reminded me very much of the 1959 movie. The story starts off slow and spends a bit more time in the preparation than on the journey than I'd like. I wish there had been more time spent deep within the earth and the discoveries there. Axel is quite over dramatic and probably should never have gone along with his uncle. The science in the story is incredibly out dated so you have to unplug that part of the brain to enjoy the adventure.

I listened to the audio book narrated by Tim Curry. His performance is top notch and fits the work beautifully. I love the emotion he's able to give the characters.

Rating:

>73 Narilka:, I don’t think time has been kind to that one, although the hollow earth idea still captures imagination. I may have read a bad translation, apparently there’s a few of those.

>74 Cecrow: After checking out other reviews, it appears a very mixed bag. I know translation can have a significant impact on the story so you're probably right. I also wouldn't be surprised if people were turned off by the severely outdated science too.

Jules Verne was a teenage favourite of mine. I'm hesitant, though, to reread his books as an adult: I've soured on outdated science and optimistic Positivism. On the other hand, my tolerance for chapter-long diversions into marine biology and soapboxing has increased.

Yeah you might want to avoid him then and keep your memories intact.

>73 Narilka: Yeah the science in that one did definitely pull me out of the story a lot. Too busy laughing or groaning at the lunacy to try to enjoy the plot. Verne is pretty hit or miss with me. I like the basic premise in most of what I've read but he put so much technobabble in most of them it gets reeeeally obnoxious, and it's even worse that now for most of them it's so outdated that it's just crazy. I actually have the last one of his from the Seven Novels thing on my list for 2018, I finally finished the rest a couple years ago but still have the last one to go, so I figured it was time to put it on the list and get it done, lol.