Reading Wednesday on a Thursday
May. 16th, 2019 01:02 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
auroracloudBecause I forgot / didn't have the energy / whatever to do a book post yesterday, but still want to do it. These are probably approximately the questions...
What have you finished reading recently?
The last thing I finished was Rosemary and Rue by Seanan McGuire, the first volume of her October Daye series, which is Fae-inspired urban fantasy, and currently nominated for the Hugo Awards for the Best Series. I really really liked it, and look forward to reading more in the series. Though so far I like the InCryptid series even better, because there's more humour and cheer in it, and combining fantastical creatures from all over the world makes things even more fun.
Before that I finished Competence by Gail Carriger, the third volume of her Custard Protocol series, which follows her Parasol Protectorate series (it's basically "the next generation and they travel abroad in a dirigible"). It's historical urban fantasy combined with steampunk, with lots of awesome women and their friendships and networks being central, and lots of queer characters. The writing style is something like "Jane Austen meets P.G. Wodehouse after dark". I just made that up now. Just about the only thing I don't like about Gail's books is her main straight couples, which I've never been into, but fortunately in this book, the focus is on a lovely f/f pairing that I've been shipping since the first subtle remark came aboard. The story is feel-good adventure, the characters are delightful as always, and I enjoy exploring the world.
Other lovely things about this book: it actually has trans representation, and as far as I as a cis woman can tell, it's well done. In this series, there's lots of English people travelling about and drinking tea, but it feels more constructive and more appreciative of different peoples than your standard colonialist narrative, though again, I'm a Western white woman so someone else may view it differently. And I adored having Primrose and Percy as alternating narrators, as they've been my favourites since the series started. I'm wondering if Percy is supposed to be neuroatypical. Also, Tasherit is a delight from start to finish, and there is a fez and there's talk of tassels.
What are you currently reading?
Jane and the Unpleasantness At Scargrave Manor, the first book of the Jane Austen Mysteries by Stephanie Barron. Yes, of course there's a series called Jane Austen Mysteries. It's basically a historical cozy mystery with Jane Austen as a main character. Though I'm interested in Austen, I don't know enough about her life to be annoyed by any possible inaccuracies, so this is basically tailor-made to entertain me. The narrative is by and large delightfully Austenian, though some modernity does pop up, probably to make it more readable to a modern audience. The only thing that vexes me so far is the constant praise of one female character's beautiful dark red hair. Don't get me wrong, I think red hair is gorgeous, but I've yet to hear of an actual early 19th century person who agreed. Would it have been that difficult to darken it to auburn, at least as far as the words go?
And as always, I've got more unfinished books around, the most active reading being a Finnish book about the history of women in science.
What will you read next?
Probably either Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik or Ninefox Gambit by Yoon-Ha Lee, as they're for the Hugos (the former for Best Novel, the latter for Best Series as well as being the first book of the series the third of which is a Best Novel finalist as well - was that explanation convoluted enough?) and the library's going to want them back eventually. Although I just got Arkady Martine's A Memory Called Empire from the library (I'd reserved it, and had no idea when the copies would arrive) so the real question is how long I'll be able to keep my hands off that.
What have you finished reading recently?
The last thing I finished was Rosemary and Rue by Seanan McGuire, the first volume of her October Daye series, which is Fae-inspired urban fantasy, and currently nominated for the Hugo Awards for the Best Series. I really really liked it, and look forward to reading more in the series. Though so far I like the InCryptid series even better, because there's more humour and cheer in it, and combining fantastical creatures from all over the world makes things even more fun.
Before that I finished Competence by Gail Carriger, the third volume of her Custard Protocol series, which follows her Parasol Protectorate series (it's basically "the next generation and they travel abroad in a dirigible"). It's historical urban fantasy combined with steampunk, with lots of awesome women and their friendships and networks being central, and lots of queer characters. The writing style is something like "Jane Austen meets P.G. Wodehouse after dark". I just made that up now. Just about the only thing I don't like about Gail's books is her main straight couples, which I've never been into, but fortunately in this book, the focus is on a lovely f/f pairing that I've been shipping since the first subtle remark came aboard. The story is feel-good adventure, the characters are delightful as always, and I enjoy exploring the world.
Other lovely things about this book: it actually has trans representation, and as far as I as a cis woman can tell, it's well done. In this series, there's lots of English people travelling about and drinking tea, but it feels more constructive and more appreciative of different peoples than your standard colonialist narrative, though again, I'm a Western white woman so someone else may view it differently. And I adored having Primrose and Percy as alternating narrators, as they've been my favourites since the series started. I'm wondering if Percy is supposed to be neuroatypical. Also, Tasherit is a delight from start to finish, and there is a fez and there's talk of tassels.
What are you currently reading?
Jane and the Unpleasantness At Scargrave Manor, the first book of the Jane Austen Mysteries by Stephanie Barron. Yes, of course there's a series called Jane Austen Mysteries. It's basically a historical cozy mystery with Jane Austen as a main character. Though I'm interested in Austen, I don't know enough about her life to be annoyed by any possible inaccuracies, so this is basically tailor-made to entertain me. The narrative is by and large delightfully Austenian, though some modernity does pop up, probably to make it more readable to a modern audience. The only thing that vexes me so far is the constant praise of one female character's beautiful dark red hair. Don't get me wrong, I think red hair is gorgeous, but I've yet to hear of an actual early 19th century person who agreed. Would it have been that difficult to darken it to auburn, at least as far as the words go?
And as always, I've got more unfinished books around, the most active reading being a Finnish book about the history of women in science.
What will you read next?
Probably either Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik or Ninefox Gambit by Yoon-Ha Lee, as they're for the Hugos (the former for Best Novel, the latter for Best Series as well as being the first book of the series the third of which is a Best Novel finalist as well - was that explanation convoluted enough?) and the library's going to want them back eventually. Although I just got Arkady Martine's A Memory Called Empire from the library (I'd reserved it, and had no idea when the copies would arrive) so the real question is how long I'll be able to keep my hands off that.
no subject
Date: 2019-05-16 02:16 pm (UTC)The Custard Protocol books are such delightfully ridiculous nonsense, and Tasherit is the absolute BEST.
I hadn't heard of the Jane Austen Mysteries but that does sound fun, so thanks for that!
no subject
Date: 2019-05-16 05:45 pm (UTC)Tasherit is indeed the BEST. Also, tassels! I rather want to write a story about Tasherit playing with tassels.
Hope you enjoy the Jane Austen Mysteries if you find them! I'm only a bit more than 1/4 through, so I can't guarantee anything, and couldn't anyway since people's tastes differ, but I'm finding it nice and cozy and yummy. It even has a preface where the author comes up with a convoluted history of how these manuscripts came to her possession etc. that you find in many an 18th century or early 19th century novel.
no subject
Date: 2019-05-21 07:44 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-05-22 07:18 pm (UTC)