Humouress settling in for 2024 - second thread

Welcome to my thread. I'm Nina, currently living in Singapore with my husband, two boys and - the star of the show - Jasper their/ our dog. My sons are superboy - but, sadly, he's given up reading though he used to be keen - and firelion; for Christmas 2021 they got Kindles in my desperate hope to use their love of technology to 'rekindle' their love of reading. (Update: it doesn't seem to be working very well although superboy did tell me he created an account for himself and downloaded some GNs. No idea if he actually read any of them, though.)

I met the 75 book challenge in 2020, for the first time since joining the Challenge in 2010 and exceeded it, finally reading 89 books in the year. In 2021 I made it again and read 92 books. I started a new hobby during the pandemic; I bought a die machine and started making birthday cards for family and friends as a hobby; it takes a lot longer than it looks like it does so it cuts into my reading time (I really should try more audio books) but I'm enjoying the creative process. I only managed 53 books in 2022 and 61 in 2023 - maybe this year, again?

My preferred reading genres are fantasy and sci-fi with a touch of golden age humour, mysteries and the occasional school story though I'll venture further afield (very) occasionally; after the pandemic, I'm giving romance a bit more leeway, though it's been hit and miss. I also have a heap of cookbooks which, really, I ought to crack open and experiment with.

We renovated our kitchen in 2023 (starting in April ... and we're - still - within touching distance of finishing, at the beginning of 2nd quarter of 2024) and it sort of spread to other parts of the house (in some instances, through necessity like the attic under-floor which had been nibbled away by termites) and hopefully this year I can try out more of those cookbooks. But I'm still on the carnivore diet for my skin issues so my cooking is limited (I want to sample my experiments, after all).

>2 humouress: ticker & covers (this thread)

>3 humouress: books (this thread; 2nd quarter) June
>4 humouress: May
>5 humouress: April

>6 humouress: January - March

>7 humouress: constellation
>8 humouress: icons
>9 humouress: reading inspirations

>10 humouress: currently reading
>110 bookmarks & book bullets
>12 humouress: reviews outstanding

>13 humouress: Alphabetical roots
>14 humouress: Acquisitions for the year

>15 humouress: welcome in!


⏮️ 75 Book Challenge 2023 thread 4.

1️⃣ First thread Humouress's new domain for 2024
🌳 ROOTs Humouress sets ROOTs for 2024
🐉 Green Dragon Humouress drops by in 2024

first 14 mine

June

May

April
27. 26.

  Total books read for 2022 (goal = 75)




01.04.2024


Reviews posted

(if it's got a tick, I've posted my review to the book's page; stars are self-explanatory; clicking on the number will take you to the post where I've at least put down some ideas; last is the book title and, hopefully, year of publication. I hope you appreciate the alliteration)

review posted/ rated/ written/ read

✔ / / (#) / Title

June

The constellation:

  You have got to read this one!                           
  Really good; worth reading                                 
     Good, but without that special 'something' for me   
      Very nice, but a few issues                                    
         An enjoyable book                                                   
         Um, okay. Has some redeeming qualities                   
              Writing is hard. I appreciate the work the author did    
             (haven't met one - yet)                                              
                  Dire                                                                            
                  Rated only as a warning. Run away. Don't stop.              

Purple stars, from Robin's thread:

5.0
4.5
4.0
3.5
3.0
2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5

Robin has made coloured stars for me (happy dance) and the codes are now enshrined in my profile.

Reading at home :

‘Waiting for the boys to finish classes’ book :

Bedtime reading :Tashi series (yes, still)

Kindle :

Downtime : Skulduggery Pleasant

Sometimes I make notes on Litsy (also as humouress) as I'm reading so I tuck them in after my reviews.

school parents' Book club (on holiday)(it seems to have faltered)

SF/F Book club Six of Crows (we haven't had a chance to meet & discuss for a while)(this was pre-pre covid; doesn't look like it's gonna happen)

online story

LT Early Reviewers

e-book

audio book

own book/ ROOTs (Read Our Own Tomes)

Overdrive start line & bookmarks:

 
The Tiger's Daughter
The Game of Kings


Holds
{none}

Holds released:
(The Storyteller’s Death
Psalm for the Wild-built
Lost Tribe of the Sith
Things in Jars
Dune)

 

Holds
The Whispering Skull

Holds released:
(The Librarian of Crooked Lane)



Holds
{none}

Holds released:
(Daughter of the Moon Goddess)

Libraries:

     

Reading inspirations

Ongoing series and/ or group reads:

The Dark is Rising - Susan Cooper
Chronicles of the Cheysuli - Jennifer Roberson
Chronicles of the Kencyrath - P. C. Hodgell (group read, started January 2018; thread 2)
Tashi - Anna Fienberg
The Vorkosigan Saga - Lois McMaster Bujold (2014-2017 group read - savouring it before I run out of these glorious books)
**Farseer (group read starting March 2018) - I stalled on my re-read of the second sub-series but I ought to try and finish it ... sometime
***The Wheel of Time - Robert Jordan (relaxed group read starting January 2019) - making progress ...
{Tor read https://www.tor.com/2018/02/20/reading-the-wheel-of-time-eye-of-the-world-part-1...
Ranger's Apprentice - John Flanagan (group read started January 2019) - pottering on with this one, too

Discworld: Death - Terry Pratchett (group read 2023 starting with Mort in February) - didn't do well with this, either

Ooh, what about...

Lunar Chronicles
Vatta/Honor Harrington
*Ready Player One
Earthsea book 1

*sigh* ... at some point in the future

ETA: not much progress in 2023 either - except for the Belgariad. I've also read book 3, The Dragon Reborn of The Wheel of Time, in preparation for the TV series; I've watched up to the end of series 1 so far.

Currently reading

(quotes)

I set this post up to keep track of quotes for later reviews but now I do that on my Litsy account.

10 bookmarks

Book bullets
The School for Good and Evil book bullet shot by The_Hibernator
A Pale Light in the Black book bullet shot by ronincats
The Girl of Fire and Thorns / The Shadow Cats book bullet shot by foggidawn
The Crow Folk book bullet shot by Jackie_K
A Winter's Promise (The Mirror Visitor series) most likely curioussquared

Reviews outstanding

2023


January
3, 4, 5
March
10, 11, 14
June
21, 26, 27
August
35, 37, 38
November
52, 54, 55, 56
December
61

2024


January
8
February
12,
March
17, 18, 19, 22, 23

April
24

Oh yes; I decided I would try to read books off my shelf alphabetically by author. If I can do two a month I should get through the alphabet by the end of the year ie A and B in January; C and D in February and so on. Of course there are some letters (like Q and X) that I don't have any authors for but it's just an experimental idea at this point.

A = Atwater, Olivia - Half a Soul : January
B = Britain, Kristen - The High King's Tomb : January (re-read)
C
D = Duncan, Dave - Paragon Lost : March
E = Eloise, Roxy - Guidal: Discovering Puracordis : March
F = Fleury, Clive - Off Season : March
G = Goddard, Victoria - Stargazy Pie : April
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z

... but: Acquisitions for the year



Received in the first quarter:
1- Penric's Labors
2- The Time of the Dark (Darwath Trilogy, Book 1)
3- The Walls of Air (Darwath Trilogy, Book 2)
4- The Armies of Daylight (Darwath Trilogy, Book 3)
5- Deathless Gods (Kencyrath)
6- Furysong (THE AURELIAN CYCLE)
7- Moonshine

15 Welcome in!

still under construction - will get around to it tomorrow. trying to find a nice, recent photo of Jasper; may have to take one (I do have a couple but there are other folks in it and I've got a video of him rolling on the lawn but I don't think I can post videos on here)

Happy new thread Nina!

>16 Owltherian: Thanks Owl. That was fast!

>17 humouress: You're welcome, and yep when im online i respond as quickly as i possibly can, unless I'm in class of course.

Happy new thread Anita!

It is so fun when family members share book love, especially same book love, that it is hard not to push encourage them.

>19 quondame: Thanks Susan :0)

At least firelion is still reading - even if it's re-reading his favourite series (Skulduggery Pleasant). We just had his parent-teacher conferences and his English teacher recommended wider reading to increase his vocabulary. (He has mock exams coming up next month for his IGCSEs in October.)

Happy new thread!

How old is firelion again? M11 doesn't read anything but graphic novels, so his grammar and vocabulary aren't much improved by his reading. D14 has a favorite series she reads over and over, and I'm currently reading the second book in the series to her. At our rate, she'll be an adult before I finish the series, but I don't find it to be very good. 🤷‍♀️

Happy new thread!

Happy new thread!

Howdy neighbour! Happy new thread. x

>21Thanks Rachel!

He's 15. But at least he does read occasionally and not just stare at screens (usually two and sometimes three at a time).

I've started the first Skulduggery book three times but haven't finished it. I feel I owe it to him to read it once through, at least, though it doesn't look like I'll be reading on with the series :0)

>22 figsfromthistle: Thanks Anita!

>23 drneutron: Thanks Doc! I may be seeing you in a few months.

>24 PaulCranswick: Hey Paul! Thank you.

I see you got within touching distance again. Congratulations on the new car.

Happy New Thread , Nina! My two sons, now aged 33 and 39 don't read books as adults . I don't know why, as like you I spent lots of time reading to them and encouraging them at the book store etc. They still read in their early teens I think, but then as homework from school took over , they seemed to give up reading for enjoyment. Maybe they will get back to one day? I can hope.

Happy new thread, Nina!

Happy new thread, Nina!

Happy new thread, Nina! I've tried alphabet challenges before and always seem to stall somewhere around Q :)

>27 humouress: Looking forward to it!

Happy new thread, Nina! Good luck with the alphabet challenge!

>29 vancouverdeb: Thank you Deborah. We can only hope they will all come back to the true faith :0)

>30 FAMeulstee: Thanks Anita!

>31 atozgrl: Thank you Irene!

>32 curioussquared: Oh great!

Thanks for the new thread wishes Natalie!

>33 drneutron: Me too. The plan is to be there at the end of August/ beginning of September. I'm hoping to drag superboy along with me as well.

>34 alcottacre: Thank you Stasia. I'm still somewhat on track, which pleasantly surprised me a bit. (See, Natalie? 😉)

24) Lirael by Garth Nix

{2nd in series; fantasy, necromancy}(2001/ 2014)

4****

Litsy notes & quotes

ebook ISBN 9781741769562

Where Sabriel came from Ancelstierre to the Old Kingdom and travelled all over on her adventure, so far Lirael has only been in the Clayr's Glacier. Mind you, she's only 14.and I'm only up to part 2, ch 14.
I notice that in Sabriel, we never learned the (old) Abhorsen's real name, nor Touchstone's.

Ancelstierre seems very much like the English countryside of PG Wodehouse's time - despite Nix being Australian. But cricket is played in all 3 countries.

Told in 3rd person from Lirael‘s POV and also Prince Sameth‘s (Sabriel‘s son)

25) The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani

{first in series; fantasy, YA}(2013/2022)

Sophie lives in the village of Gavaldon which is surrounded by woods and the only way to leave is - if you're kidnapped by the School Master as a child and reappear in the fairy tales which are read so eagerly by all the children in the village. So every four years all the parents board up their children's windows. Good children are entreated to do bad deeds or muddy their faces; naught children are encouraged to clean up and be nice. But Sophie's ambition has always been to be a princess. This year will be when she falls into the age bracket (12-16) and she's determined to be kidnapped chosen so she determinedly does her good deeds which are going to see Agatha, who looks like a witch, to be her friend.

By hook or by crook the two girls end up at the Hogwarts-like School for Good and Evil, where fairytale heroes, princesses (because they're not heroes) and villains are trained. But Sophie is sent to the School for Evil and Agatha is sent to the School for Good and then spend a lot of time, between lessons, with Agatha trying to convince Sophie they need to go home and Sophie trying to switch schools while both of them try to convince their classmates that they're not evil. (Sophie's roommates believe that she's in Evil because she belongs there while Agatha's classmates judge by the way she looks and dresses.)

And behind the scenes, the School Master and the Storian are writing their fairytale.

This got off to a slow start for me but then picked up. Though the premise looked straightforward enough I couldn't tell where it was going which seemed like a good thing. I was confused by a lot of the word choices which didn't make sense (to me) in the context but it was easy enough to skip past and not be thrown out of the story.

I couldn't work out how old the children were but, given the princesses' focus on boys, I presume they must be closer to sixteen rather than any of them being twelve. There is some death (including of animals) and even killing (though not gory) so I wouldn't rate this as a children's book. I also couldn't tell if their class was the only one in the school or if there were other children in other years, even when it came to the final battle. And maybe it doesn't matter whether they behave well or badly once they're in their schools? I couldn't tell. But, to be honest, I gave up trying to keep track of who was being good or evil on the day and just read the story.

My overall impression is that the book was a bit confused and confusing; chapter 25 especially was all over the place. If there was a message or a point, I'm not quite sure what it was; it looked like it would be one thing, then another and then ... and finally ...?

3-3.5****

Litsy notes & quotes

Agatha and Sophie have solved the School Master‘s riddle - so now they should be able to go home. But I‘m only halfway through the book.

It got off to a slow start initially but picked up. It‘s not obvious where it‘s going yet, which is good. There were some odd vocabulary choices which didn‘t make sense to me.

>41 humouress: One of my favorites! And the library of the Clayr holds the honor of being my favorite ever fictional library. My paperback is so beat up; I brought it to be signed when I met Garth Nix and he told me he had probably never signed such a "well-loved" copy before 😂 I did recently acquire a new one to reread so I can keep my original from falling apart.

Also, not really a spoiler but behind tags just in case re: the old Abhorsen's name: I don't think Nix kept his name secret for any reason, it just happened. Anyway, Nix's most recent Old Kingdom entry, Terciel and Elinor is about Sabriel's parents.

>43 curioussquared: Actually, I went and looked it up, in case I had missed it, so I suspected that was the case. There's a wiki (I'm sure you've found it) and I found Touchstone's name too - though I've forgotten it again. But I think you're right; there's no special reason Nix didn't tell us.

26) Agatha Raisin and the Walkers of Dembley by M.C. Beaton

{fourth of 34+3 in Agatha Raisin series; detective, murder, mystery, crime, village life, Cotswolds, English countryside, comedy, audiobook, BBC adaptation}(2010)

 

Another instalment, listening to the lovely voice of Penelope Keith as Agatha. Having skimmed through the e-book of The Potted Gardener (looking for a quote after listening to the audiobook) I've concluded that these dramatisations are probably closer to the television adaptations than to the books themselves - not that I'm complaining.

This time Agatha - with James in tow - is asked to investigate by Sir Charles - for a fee, no less! - and clear his name after a rambler using the right of way over his fields is killed after a run-in with his estate manager. The rambler belonged to a group from a close by village called 'The Walkers of Dembley' so Agatha and James go under cover in a flat (supplied by Sir Charles) as a married couple (there are two beds) in the village and start asking questions.

I thought the mystery was solved rather quickly but I'm having such fun listening to Agatha and James!

(April 2024)
4 stars

>41 humouress: I really need to re-read this trilogy at some point. It has to be at least 10 years since I last picked it up!

>42 humouress: I think I will give that one a pass.

>46 alcottacre: Well Stasia, The Old Kingdom is now a tetralogy plus two prequels :0)

I doubt I'll continue with The School for Good and Evil.

Dropping my marker so I can stay current from here. I hope. That's my plan anyhow. : )

Hi Kim! I'll have to come by and do the same for your thread - and lots of other people's too :0)

Still current...LOL!

>42 humouress: I got a *glowing* report on this from my grandchild. I think I'g hate it so I'm going with your take.

>25 humouress: lol. I'm reading D14's favorite series to her on days that I have time. I'm not a fan, but she loves it, and it's good bonding time.

>52 The_Hibernator: Definitely worth it!

Have a great weekend, neighbour.

>50 Berly: Well, I've been a bit absent :0)

>51 richardderus: It's not horrible - but pick your battles.

>52 The_Hibernator: Yes, that's why I want to give it a decent go, at least, since he loves the Skulduggery series.

>53 Berly: It's nice that Rachel still gets to read to D. I sort of miss that - but on the other hand, I was having to read longer chapters and my throat would go dry.

>54 PaulCranswick: Thanks Paul! It's been a busy week (in real life).

27) The Troubled Girls of Dragomir Academy by Anne Ursu

{stand-alone; fantasy, magic, children’s, young adult}(2021)

 

Sorcerers have an important job in Illyria - to protect the country against magical monsters, witches from the neighbouring country of Kel and the Dread - a strange purple cloud that can kill everyone in a village overnight. Everyone in their village has always known that Marya's brother, Luka, is destined to be a sorcerer and now the Council for the Magical Protection of Illyria has sent a letter to let his parents know that they're going to come and test him. But on the day of his evaluation a prank he pulled on Marya (in return for one that she pulled on him) goes wrong and Anton the goat - despite Marya's best efforts to stop him - causes a disaster which results in a letter coming to inform their parents that Marya has been invited (attendance is compulsory) to attend the Dragomir Academy for Troubled Girls where she will stay for the next six years, until she is eighteen.

When she gets there she discovers that she will receive an education including being taught to read (though she has already been taught by a friend) but there are lots of rules and regulations that the girls are expected to follow in the hopes of getting a good placement such as looking after a sorcerer's library. Like a lot of the other girls Marya has difficulty repressing her 'troublesome' instincts so they are often punished, as a whole class, if just one girl breaks the rules.

She feels that there is a mystery behind the creation of the Academy so she and her friend Elana set out to discover what it is. Gradually the girls realise that not all is as it seems at Dragomir - nor in the kingdom of Illyria - and maybe they should be questioning more and not just accepting what they're told.

I like the cover of the book, with the clouds of the Dread swirling around the towers of the school. (Oddly, though when Marya arrives she notices turrets sprouting off towers growing out of the school building, we don't see them on the inside, which is a shame.) And, may I say, I'm very glad that there is a map of the continent at the beginning of the book. (I wondered if the place names 'Torak' and 'Kel' were a nod to The Belgariad.)

I thought this was quite a gentle story though I did get wrapped up in the adventure. At one point, I admit, when Marya had just decoded the history of the Academy and decided that people in authority (the people who are hiding things from the girls) needed to know, so she took it to the headmaster - I couldn't look; I had to put the book down in the middle of a chapter. But then I was desperate to find out what happened (reader's dilemma) and of course I came back to it. I think, though, it is perfectly gauged for its target audience (the protagonist is around twelve years old) and should get them thinking. Part of the message throughout this book is that girls and women are treated as secondary to boys and men, who are automatically assumed to be superior in Illyria. Ursu keeps showing us this without telling us outright but lets the reader work it out:

That is not to say that girls and women did not matter to Illyria: behind every great tapestry was a woman who wove it, just as behind every great sorcerer was a wife to tend to his domestic affairs, a governess to teach his children, a cook to warm his gullet, a maid to keep his fires lit.

And behind every boy who dreamed of being a sorcerer was a mother who raised him to be brave, noble, and kind. And perhaps that boy even had a sister, who, right before the Council for the Magical Protection of Illyria finally visited his humble home to test him for a magical gift, made sure the chicken coop was spotless.

This is right at the beginning of chapter one, and introduces us to Marya as she's making sure that the chicken coop is spotless for the Council's visit. Though the focus is Marya's story, I liked the fact that she came to realise that behind her fighting with her brother there is genuine love and comradeship.

I could have been outraged at the difference in the way boys and girls were treated and brought up and the lengths that the men in power in Illyria go to to keep it that way in spite of the suffering it results in - but I think Ursu takes it a step further; she makes us think about why someone would be unwittingly complicit in being made to feel devalued and maybe, by doing so, gives young readers a chance to realise, if it is happening to them, that they can change it.

Everything is wrapped up satisfactorily (though the ending may have been a tad rushed - I was worried for a bit that I would have to look for a sequel to finish the story). I like the last lines of the book. I don't think it's a spoiler but, just in case, I'll hide them:

"We can do this," she said, eyes shining.

The other girls were grinning at her. They could do this. The Guild was still in power, the king still sat on his throne, but they could still remake the world.

There was more, so much more. ... They needed to tell their story in as many ways as they could. They needed to send letters, tell stories, weave, and embroider. They needed to tell the truth, to record it in a way that people would keep it. They were the troubled girls of Dragomir Academy - breaking, but never broken and they had stories to tell.

(April 2024)
3.5-4 stars

Litsy notes & quotes

So glad there‘s a map at the beginning. She must be a fan of the Belgariad - place names include Torak and Kel 😊

I like the cover, with the Dread swirling around the Academy.

Just got to the part where 12 yo Marya has just decoded the history of the Academy and decides people need to know - so she‘s taking it to the headmaster and teachers. The people who are hiding things from the girls. I couldn‘t look. I had to put the book down in the middle of a chapter. But now I‘m desperate to find out what happened. Reader‘s dilemma 🤗

That is not to say that girls and women did not matter to Illyria: behind every great tapestry was a woman who wove it, just as behind every great sorcerer was a wife to tend to his domestic affairs, a governess to teach his children, a cook to warm his gullet, a maid to keep his fires fit.
And behind every boy who dreamed of being a sorcerer was a mother who raised him to be brave, noble, and kind. And perhaps that boy even had a sister, who, right before the Council for the Magical Protection of Illyria finally visited his humble home to test him for a magical gift, made sure the chicken coop was spotless.

"We can do this," she said, eyes shining.
The other girls were grinning at her. They could do this. The Guild was still in power, the king still sat on his throne, but they could still remake the world.
There was more, so much more. Now that the doors were open, ideas were flooding into Marya's head. They could learn the embroidery language. Madame Banda could come and teach them to weave. They needed to tell their story in as many ways as they could. They needed to send letters, tell stories, weave, and embroider. They needed to tell the truth, to record it in a way that people would keep it. They were the troubled girls of Dragomir Academy_-breaking, but never broken and they had stories to tell.

The beginning and ending. I like the last lines. I don‘t think it‘s spoilery but I‘ll hide it, just in case.

Part of the message throughout this book is that girls and women are treated as secondary to boys and men, who hold the power. Ursu isn‘t over subtle: That is not to say that girls and women did not matter to Illyria: behind every great tapestry was a woman who wove it, just as behind every great sorcerer was a wife to tend to his domestic affairs, a governess to teach his children, a cook to warm his gullet, a maid to keep his fires lit.

>60 humouress: Looks like a nice easy read.

>61 The_Hibernator: It was, but that's not to say it was simplistic. Your D might be interested.

So, folks, here's the plan for the third quarter. My niece (my cousin's daughter) is getting married in DC at the beginning of September and as she'll be the first of her generation (my grandfather's great grandchildren; she's the eldest) to get married I've decided to attend. I'm planning to spend maybe a week in Seattle first and then go on to DC at the end of August for festivities and family gatherings, and will probably stay in the city.

superboy (that's No. 1 son) is currently applying to universities and should be entering in mid-September so I'll take him along too - and he can socialise with family, many of whom he's never met as they're on the other side of the world - before going on to wherever he's going.

And so there are possibilities for meet-ups, both on the east and west coasts, if anyone's interested? But time will be tight, especially in DC. Doc, I hope to see you there.

Sounds wonderful, Nina! I don't have a passport , and I should get one, so I won't be there. But it sounds like lots of fun ahead. I'm a phobic flyer and we used just need an extra thing on our driver's licence to use instead of passport , but that ended some years ago, so I should really apply for a passport.

I hope your son gets into the university he decides on .

>64 vancouverdeb: Thanks Deborah :0) Fingers crossed.

You know, we won't be that far from Vancouver ... (so get that passport!).

My Connections for today:

Connections
Puzzle #316
🟨🟪🟦🟨
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟪🟪🟪🟪
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟨🟨🟨🟨

Apparently yellow is the easiest and I got that last (the 'default' selections) and purple is the hardest. I don't fully understand the way the person who sets these thinks.

>63 humouress: What courses is he looking at, Nina?

>62 humouress: Maybe! Though I don't have a lot of luck picking out books for her. She has to be "in the mood" or it ends of on a pile to collect dust.

28) Stargazy Pie by Victoria Goddard

{first of 6 (+3 prequels) Greenwing and Dart series; also contained in Sword & Magic: Eight Fantasy Novels; fantasy, magic, empire, adventure, manners, society, fantasy of manners, mischief}(2016)

According to the (current) blurb for each book in this series, 'magic is out of fashion'. Go ahead and flout fashion.

Jemis Greenwing, aged 21, returned from university in disgrace to Ragnor Bella - where he has to adapt to reduced circumstances and former high society acquaintances avoiding him - with not very much more than his name (though his father was accounted a traitor after being commended as a hero) and the remnants of a bad illness which still has him sneezing uncontrollably (oh, I can empathise) at strong scents, startling noises and ... almost everything, it seems. We first meet him on his first day at work in Elderflower Books, Mrs Etaris's bookshop (the only one in Ragnor Bella, which has the reputation of being the dullest town in the barony and possibly the country). As he is sent out for coffee, he spots a figure acting suspiciously by the fountain in the square and when it runs off he discovers a pie with fish heads sticking out of the crust so he takes it back with him to investigate further.

Mrs Etaris and Jemis look into the recipe books in the shop and determine that it is a Ghilousetten stargazy pie (in our world, they are actually a Cornish speciality). The bookshop receives quite a few visitors that day, among them the baron's son (the Honourable Master Roald Ragnor - dubbed the 'Honourable Rag') who tells them that the fish are herring and Mr Dart; both formerly good friends of Jemis's before they all went to different universities but only Mr Dart seems inclined to continue the close acquaintance and he insists that they investigate the mysterious pie further. Which leads them, by convoluted ways, into the oddest adventures (narrated in the first person from Jemis's point of view).

I enjoyed this story though I was a bit confused at the beginning because Jemis mentioned a lot of things without explaining them, such as different towns and cities (I could really do with a map of this world) and made constant references to 'the Fall' and I felt frustrated every time not knowing: the fall of what? The book got off to a slow start for me (possibly partly due to my reading it on my Kindle which I don't often do; this was one of eight books in the Sword & Magic: Eight Fantasy Novels collection) though it was entertaining enough. It seemed to be modelled on Victorian or Regency society (though the author is Canadian) with social standings and things like 'the cut direct' but women seem to be treated equally; they also go to university to earn degrees and learn to use weapons. To be honest, this also confused me (maybe I've read too many Jane Austen's? (Never! That is a base calumny.)) by initially confounding my expectations. It made me wonder if the author had been finding her way through this story.

At around chapter 9 (of 31) the action picked up with a midnight adventure with Greenwing and Dart desperately running through the woods trying to escape ... well, read it. And around then some of the details started to finally be filled in; what happened for Jemis to be failed out of university, how his heart was broken there, a bit more about his family history and some of what happened to magic in this world. It was fun before; at this point it became interesting with Jemis and his friends careening from one situation to another. In hindsight it has a somewhat Wodehousian feel to it - maybe more Mike and Psmith than Jeeves and Wooster - which may be why it appealed to me.

Not to say that everything was explained at the end - I'll see if it is, in the next book in this series (yes, I plan to continue). I have it on good authority that the books only get better; so I'm in for a treat. Bee Sting Cake, I believe.

(April 2024)
3.75-4 stars

Litsy notes & quotes

Jemis Greenwing returned to Ragnor Bella from university in disgrace and has to adapt to reduced circumstances and former high society acquaintances avoiding him. It‘s an engaging story but I‘m reading it on my Kindle and finding the smaller page size distracting.

This story takes place after the Fall but (4.5 chapters in) I‘m still frustrated in trying to discover the fall of *what*?

I assumed Goddard invented it but stargazy pie seems to be a Cornish delicacy.

Wikipedia: Stargazy pie is a Cornish dish made of baked pilchards (sardines; although there are a few variations using other types of fish), along with eggs and potatoes, covered with a pastry crust. The unique feature of stargazy pie is fish heads (and sometimes tails) protruding through the crust, so that they appear to be gazing to the stars.

Picks up around chapter 9 with a midnight adventure and some of the details start to finally be filled in (university, family, magic). It was fun before; now it's interesting. And maybe there's another reason for Jemis's uncontrollable sneezing rather than it being a remnant from his illness. (What illness? 🤗 Quite.)

Ch 29 🫣 Another one where I was convinced something bad was going to happen and I couldn't look. Of course I went back and finished reading afterwards.

>69 humouress: There is a map of Alinor online. The 9 worlds wiki is an ever improving resource.

>70 quondame: Thanks! That helps. The map looks very professional. I'll bookmark the wiki.

>69 humouress: Although not a fantasy/sci fi fan, you review was marvelous and intriguing!

DC--one of my top 5 fav cities in the world!

29) Well that was unexpected by Jesse Q. Sutanto

Sharlot is half Indonesian-Chinese and half American (though she's never met her dad) and she's growing up in California. George is the scion of an Indonesian-Chinese family, living in Jakarta. When their respective parents catch them in (by their traditional parents' standards) compromising situations, Sharlot's mum whisks her off to Indonesia and creates an account for her on a local dating app. George's widower dad - with the help of his thirteen year old sister - also creates a profile for him on the app. And, of course, they're thrilled to find their ideal match (mainly because the parents are putting in the traits that they think are desirable) though it's fairly obvious to us, the readers, that it's the parents because of things like the quality of their English and the fact that 'Sharlot' apparently loves cooking traditional dishes and 'George' claims to love maths.

So, to please their families, George and Sharlot go ahead with a coffee date, intending never to see each other again - until their families poke their noses in (bringing along media because George's family is about to launch an app, which he's spearheading) and they have to keep fake dating until after the official launch party. Which is in Bali, so we get treated to an additional holiday.

Sharlot (who has only ever had her mother for family) sees her mum in a new light, now that she's back in her native land, and starts to really connect with her for the first time.

Here, she's laid-back and cheerful and like...a woman instead of a mother, which is utterly weird.
Oh god, it just strikes me that maybe she's got a crush on someone. Maybe it's George's dad. Eww. Can people in their late thirties even have crushes? That's, like, way ancient to have a crush.

Well, their relationship evolves over the course of the book.

George, on the other hand, has grown up in a strong family structure where everyone knows everyone else's business, probably before they do themselves, and dissects it endlessly. This is his dad, younger sister and grandmother discussing his dating life, or lack thereof, after he's startled to wake one morning to find them sitting in his bedroom.

In reply, they all talk in low voices among themselves, as though I'm not right here in front of them and can hear every single word they're saying.
Papa: “You're right, he's hopeless.“
Eleanor: “Told you.“
Nainai: “He'll be celibate his whole life. No one will continue the family name.“

(Don't you love that instant recourse she takes to high drama and emotional blackmail?)

This was fun to read. This story is narrated in the first person from both Sharlot's and George's points of view in different chapters (but, though the chapters have the name of whoever is narrating it at the beginning, I kept missing the change over for some reason and having to go back to check). It has a slight Crazy Rich Asians vibe with an ABC (American Born Chinese) being brought back to Asia and having to cope with a culture (in this case Indonesian-Chinese) and family that she knows nothing about. The romance (yes, of course there's a romance) was sweet and low key but I enjoyed the way Sutanto lovingly pokes fun at her culture such as the way parents choose Western names for their children but always misspell them (Sharlot) or give them a whole celebrity name (George Clooney Tanuwijaya) or stick fiercely to outdated traditions.

Indonesia's a pretty conservative country when measured up against Western standards, but the Chinese-Indonesian community is even more conservative. It's not even about religion; it's a really weird thing where I feel like a large part of the Chinese-Indonesian culture is based around olden-day Chinese customs that most people in China have moved on from, but we never got the memo because we left China.

I also liked the way she showcased Indonesia (Jakarta and Bali), mainly through Sharlot's eyes as she experienced it for the first time having assumed until this trip that it's a third world country. I may pop next door and refresh my memories.

(read in Singapore, May 2024)
3.5-4***

Litsy notes & quotes

Well, That Was Unexpected | Jesse Q. Sutanto
A bit like ‘Crazy Rich Asians‘ in that an American Born Chinese (ABC) is brought back to Asia and has to cope with a culture (in this case Indonesian-Chinese) and family that she knows nothing about.

Ch 8 - hilarious because it‘s obvious (from the quality of English) that the parents are setting up their kids on a dating app, but they don‘t realise and are thrilled that they‘ve found perfect (by their lights) partners.

The story is narrated in the first person but by both protagonists in different chapters. I keep missing the change over and having to go back to the beginning of the chapter to see which one is narrating.

Here, she's laid-back and cheerful and like...a woman instead of a mother, which is utterly weird.
Oh god, it just strikes me that maybe she's got a crush on someone. Maybe it's George's dad. Eww. Can people in their late thirties even have crushes? That's, like, way ancient to have a crush.

When a teenager starts seeing her mum as a person. Almost …

In reply, they all talk in low voices among themselves, as though I'm not right here in front of them and can hear every single word they're saying.
Papa: “You're right, he's hopeless.“
Eleanor: “Told you.“
Nainai: “He'll be celibate his whole life. No one will continue the family name.“

George‘s dad, gran & 13 year old sister discussing his dating life, or lack thereof

Indonesia's a pretty conservative country when measured up against Western standards, but the Chinese-Indonesian community is even more conservative. It's not even about religion; it's a really weird thing where I feel like a large part of the Chinese-Indonesian culture is based around olden-day Chinese customs that most people in China have moved on from, but we never got the memo because we left China. Dating is very much one of these

Happens all over the world; a culture that‘s moved away from the home country is even more set on sticking to traditions.

Wordle 1,049 4/6

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My Wordle pattern today. Everything but ...

I thought we had visited Uluwatu temple, which is featured in Well That was Unexpected, when we last went to Bali with the kids but we hadn't.

We did go to Tanah Lot which is spectacular too. It sits on the edge of the sea and at high tide is cut off by the waves so you have to leave before then. I think we got there just as the waves were coming in so we couldn't go to the island itself. We did get splashed by the waves (8 year old firelion made it a point, looking back at the photos) but this was taken from a bit further back.



Tanah Lot sunset. 2017

30) A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
based on an idea by Siobhan Dowd

Siobhan Dowd was an award winning children's author who died from breast cancer in 2007. She had the idea for this book, of a young boy with a mother very ill with cancer but did not get to write it before she died. Ness was asked to write the book, based on her idea. Reading it felt especially poignant knowing this background.

This book was heart-wrenching and so well written, but I don't know if I could read it again. It is told (in the third person) from the point of view of thirteen year old Connor O'Malley, an ordinary, decent boy, whose mother is very sick. She has been through a few rounds of treatment, obviously for cancer, but the current round doesn't seem to be helping as well as it should. Connor's dad is out of the picture, having remarried and moved to America and his mum's mum is a no-nonsense sort of person whom Connor doesn't get on with at all (though we can see she does care about him). Meanwhile, Connor feels ostracised at school because everyone found out that his mum is sick and they walk on eggshells around him - except for Harry and his followers who constantly bully Connor.

But that's not the worst of it. Connor has a recurring nightmare, of darkness and hands slipping from his grasp which has him waking screaming in terror. So when the yew tree at the top of the hill that his mother always gazes at turns into a monster and breaks into his room, Connor isn't scared.

When is a monster not a monster?

The monster will tell Connor three stories and the fourth, well the fourth one will have to come from Connor and will be the story of his nightmare. And so we live Connor's life with him, at home, at school, at night with the yew tree monster and even at the hospital.

Short and bitter-sweet. Beautifully written. I'm still dabbing at tears as I write this (and I never cry, I'll have you know).

Wikipedia tells me this was turned into a film in 2016 and later adapted into an award winning play.

5*****

>76 humouress: It's so extremely moving...I think it's a beautiful idea.

Stay well, Nina!

>77 richardderus: Thank you Richard. And you too.

Is it safe to drop by your thread these days? No more jello attrocities?

>76 humouress: I think I've been hit... but I'll probably save it for a time when I need a good cry!