slyprentice (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
slyprentice) wrote2009-06-12 09:45 pm
slyprentice) wrote2009-06-12 09:45 pm
Entry tags:
Updated: Books of 2009
I realized today that, much to my own chagrin, I hadn't bothered to update my 'Books of 2009 List' and am now way behind on it. I never realized just how many (or how few) books I read until I started trying to keep track of them. Anyway, here's the updated list so far with a few short reviews attached. Nothing fancy since I completely dropped the ball on updating. These aren't necessarily the order I've read them in but, at this point, I'm lucky if I remember them all - I really need to work on updating this thing more regularly. -.-
Books of 2009
1. Black Powder Wars by Naomi Novik
2. Daddy-Long-Legs by Jean Webster
3. Worst Witch by Jill Murphy (audiobook)
4. Slave Boy by Evangeline Anderson
5. Rosie Little's Cautionary Tales For Girls by Danielle Wood
6. Wes and Toren by J.M. Colail
7. Austenland by Shannon ale
8. Hero by Perry Moore
9. The Pirate's Lair (plus a few other Torquere Shorts) by Shayne Carmichael and Mychael Black
10. Beyond the Highland Mist by Karen Marie Moning
11. Beneath a Yankee Sky & Under a Confederate Moon by J.M. Snyder
12. To Have and To Hostage by G.A. Hauser
13. Star Trek Academy: Collison Course by William Shatner
14. Star Trek: Troublesome Minds by Dave Galanter
15. Drawn Together by Z. A. Maxfield
16. Dead as a Doornail by Charlaine Harris
17. Definitely Dead by Charlaine Harris
18. All Together Dead by Charlaine Harris
19. The Last Bite by Evangeline Anderson
20. Point Blanc by Anthony Horowitz
21. Skeleton Key by Anthony Horowitz
22. Small Favors by Jim Butcher (audiobook)
23. Mr. Darcy's Dairy by Amanda Grange
23 / 135 words. 17% done!
As I've said, these aren't necessarily in the order that I read them and I'm fairly sure I'm missing one or two - especially for Evangaline Anderson - but considering I didn't keep track and update properly I can only blame myself. The only one accurate in terms of when I've read them is the last one, as I'm currently finishing it up now. Which, unsurprisingly enough, leads me to my short reviews of a few of these...
Beneath a Yankee Sky/Under a Confederate Moon by J.M. Snyder:
I really wanted to enjoy these two novellas by Snyder. They had a decent and (to me) intriguing premise: two soliders on opposite sides of the Civil War, both of which are shapeshifters (bobcats), and plenty of room for inappropriate sexual tension. I went in with no real expectations other than hoping that this would be another fun if not short ride and was sadly left wanting even before I finished the first novella. The reasons for that are two fold:
1. Length. While some might put this down to the fact that it's no secret I enjoy epically long stories (I'm not a reccer over at![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
epic_recs for nothing), I think Snyder fell into the trap that many authors over the years has fallen into: using a plot better served for a novel-length story in a short. I don't know if it was lack of inspiration, lack of hardfacts on the Civil War (doubtful), or lack of time but I can honestly say that I don't know what the plot was supposed to be in this story. Don't get me wrong, I know what the premise said and promised but what we got was lackluster and badly in need of a fleshing out. Seriously, I really wanted more than I got and while the author and fans might flay me for saying that, I feel completely justified in saying that, especially considering my next point...
2. Characterization. As one might expect this is basically a sub-point of what I said about about the length. Neither of the characters were particularly likeable nor three dimensional. Caleb, whose introduced in the first novella, comes off as whiny and spineless, and seems to be perpetually in heat. None of these attributes are particularly endearing and, despite the supposed relationship later on between the two, I don't feel that the other shifter finds them particularly endearing either. Frankly, I think he (the other shifter) finds it annoying. Brance, said other shifter, is also introduced in the first novella but we don't get his point-of-view until the second one...well, he's a noneity. He's closed mouth and seemingly bad temepered but we never really learn why that is. It's just kind of void with him and considering out of the two, I'd pick him as a favorite character, that should tell you something.
In the end, I can't really say I'd recommend these novellas for something of Snyder's to read. Don't get me wrong, I love JM but these two just fell short for me.
Star Trek Academy: Collison Course by William Shatner
This is going to be an uber short review since I only have a few things to say and the first is that I absolutely adored it. Much like the new film, I really want more of this version of Spock and Kirk and would absolutely adore to see it played out in some way. I'm already looking for another Star Trek Academy book to dive into.
Mr. Darcy's Diary by Amanda Grange
Another short review as I'm not completely finished with this book but since I'm only lacking a couple of pages I wanted to say a few things, the first being that I think this is a pretty fair attempt at capturing P&P from Darcy's side, even if it is a little dry. By dry I mean, of course, it isn't as engaging as the original. At many points I found myself skimming over some of the details of Darcy's journal because, as much as I enjoy the insight, some of it was just boring. Not severly so but enough that I didn't feel like I'd be missing anything if I did skim. Overall, however, I'm glad I found it and read it and I'll be reading the author's other books.
For those who don't know her work, she's also written: Captain Wentworth's Diary, Mr Knightley's Diary, Edmund Bertram's Diary, Colonel Brandon's Diary and coming out soon, Mr Darcy, Vampyre. I've got everything but Colonel Brandon's Diary (if you have it, let me know, I'd absolutely adore you for a copy or to be able to borrow it) and, of course, Mr Darcy, Vampyre, which I'm hoping to get when it comes out.
Anywho, that's enough out of me for now. More updates later! :)
Books of 2009
1. Black Powder Wars by Naomi Novik
2. Daddy-Long-Legs by Jean Webster
3. Worst Witch by Jill Murphy (audiobook)
4. Slave Boy by Evangeline Anderson
5. Rosie Little's Cautionary Tales For Girls by Danielle Wood
6. Wes and Toren by J.M. Colail
7. Austenland by Shannon ale
8. Hero by Perry Moore
9. The Pirate's Lair (plus a few other Torquere Shorts) by Shayne Carmichael and Mychael Black
10. Beyond the Highland Mist by Karen Marie Moning
11. Beneath a Yankee Sky & Under a Confederate Moon by J.M. Snyder
12. To Have and To Hostage by G.A. Hauser
13. Star Trek Academy: Collison Course by William Shatner
14. Star Trek: Troublesome Minds by Dave Galanter
15. Drawn Together by Z. A. Maxfield
16. Dead as a Doornail by Charlaine Harris
17. Definitely Dead by Charlaine Harris
18. All Together Dead by Charlaine Harris
19. The Last Bite by Evangeline Anderson
20. Point Blanc by Anthony Horowitz
21. Skeleton Key by Anthony Horowitz
22. Small Favors by Jim Butcher (audiobook)
23. Mr. Darcy's Dairy by Amanda Grange
As I've said, these aren't necessarily in the order that I read them and I'm fairly sure I'm missing one or two - especially for Evangaline Anderson - but considering I didn't keep track and update properly I can only blame myself. The only one accurate in terms of when I've read them is the last one, as I'm currently finishing it up now. Which, unsurprisingly enough, leads me to my short reviews of a few of these...
Beneath a Yankee Sky/Under a Confederate Moon by J.M. Snyder:
I really wanted to enjoy these two novellas by Snyder. They had a decent and (to me) intriguing premise: two soliders on opposite sides of the Civil War, both of which are shapeshifters (bobcats), and plenty of room for inappropriate sexual tension. I went in with no real expectations other than hoping that this would be another fun if not short ride and was sadly left wanting even before I finished the first novella. The reasons for that are two fold:
1. Length. While some might put this down to the fact that it's no secret I enjoy epically long stories (I'm not a reccer over at
epic_recs for nothing), I think Snyder fell into the trap that many authors over the years has fallen into: using a plot better served for a novel-length story in a short. I don't know if it was lack of inspiration, lack of hardfacts on the Civil War (doubtful), or lack of time but I can honestly say that I don't know what the plot was supposed to be in this story. Don't get me wrong, I know what the premise said and promised but what we got was lackluster and badly in need of a fleshing out. Seriously, I really wanted more than I got and while the author and fans might flay me for saying that, I feel completely justified in saying that, especially considering my next point...2. Characterization. As one might expect this is basically a sub-point of what I said about about the length. Neither of the characters were particularly likeable nor three dimensional. Caleb, whose introduced in the first novella, comes off as whiny and spineless, and seems to be perpetually in heat. None of these attributes are particularly endearing and, despite the supposed relationship later on between the two, I don't feel that the other shifter finds them particularly endearing either. Frankly, I think he (the other shifter) finds it annoying. Brance, said other shifter, is also introduced in the first novella but we don't get his point-of-view until the second one...well, he's a noneity. He's closed mouth and seemingly bad temepered but we never really learn why that is. It's just kind of void with him and considering out of the two, I'd pick him as a favorite character, that should tell you something.
In the end, I can't really say I'd recommend these novellas for something of Snyder's to read. Don't get me wrong, I love JM but these two just fell short for me.
Star Trek Academy: Collison Course by William Shatner
This is going to be an uber short review since I only have a few things to say and the first is that I absolutely adored it. Much like the new film, I really want more of this version of Spock and Kirk and would absolutely adore to see it played out in some way. I'm already looking for another Star Trek Academy book to dive into.
Mr. Darcy's Diary by Amanda Grange
Another short review as I'm not completely finished with this book but since I'm only lacking a couple of pages I wanted to say a few things, the first being that I think this is a pretty fair attempt at capturing P&P from Darcy's side, even if it is a little dry. By dry I mean, of course, it isn't as engaging as the original. At many points I found myself skimming over some of the details of Darcy's journal because, as much as I enjoy the insight, some of it was just boring. Not severly so but enough that I didn't feel like I'd be missing anything if I did skim. Overall, however, I'm glad I found it and read it and I'll be reading the author's other books.
For those who don't know her work, she's also written: Captain Wentworth's Diary, Mr Knightley's Diary, Edmund Bertram's Diary, Colonel Brandon's Diary and coming out soon, Mr Darcy, Vampyre. I've got everything but Colonel Brandon's Diary (if you have it, let me know, I'd absolutely adore you for a copy or to be able to borrow it) and, of course, Mr Darcy, Vampyre, which I'm hoping to get when it comes out.
Anywho, that's enough out of me for now. More updates later! :)