Couple behind again, so another 2fer.
Book # 15 is The Game of Kings by Dorothy Dunnett.
This book came recommended by my favourite author, Guy Gavriel Kay. And whooboy could I see the influence this book had over his writing. I don't say that in a bad way though, more in a 'that's very interesting' way.
The Game of Kings deals with the time period just after Henry VIII's death, when his young, sickly son, Edward the VI is on the throne. The English and Scots are fighting, and part of the fighting is to force the nobility of Scotland to marry their young Queen, Mary, to Edward, and unify the two nations. Of course the Scots aren't particularly in favour of this idea.
This book introduces us to noble rogue extrordinaire, Francis Crawford of Lymond. AKA one of the obvious templates for my absolute favourite character of Kay's, Prince Diarmuid dan Ailel. The similarities are absolutely striking, from their appearance, their love of a certain tavern, the stormy relationship with an elder brother... just so many. Lymond's a fascinating character, brilliant, misunderstood, dangerous, Machiavellian and too smart for his own good. He's often impenetrable though, and sometimes, the novel is like that as well.
This isn't an... easy read. There's untranslated French, a fairly vast cast of characters to keep straight, and enough literary illusions to give even this English major some pause. But all that said, I really liked this book, especially when Lymond is humbled a little. The other characters are quite good too; especially Lymond's mother and Christian Stewart. There are great themes of betrayal and loyalty and a heck of a lot of things not being what they seem, which is what gives this book, and Lymond himself, a lot of their drive.
Book #16 is NOS4A2 by Joe Hill.
Joe Hill has written a wonderfully creepy book that evokes all the good stuff about his father's early work, but also with his own stamp on it. The supernatural in this book isn't really explained, it just IS, and I'm good with that. Victoria McQueen is a very messed up bad-ass with a special ability to find things. She crosses paths with the very bad Charlie Manx, kidnapper of young children and 'creator' of Christmasland, the place he spirits his charges away to, in his 1920s Rolls Royce Wraith. And basically, bad things happen. Also important to note, that despite the title, this is not yet another vampire book. There's some very, very slight vampiric tones, but nothing overt, and I liked that subversion of it. The action was also good and scary and there were numerous times where I didn't think anyone was getting out of this alive. So the stakes were appropriately high. And well done.
Showing posts with label Joe Hill. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Joe Hill. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 08, 2014
Saturday, June 01, 2013
Catching up
I'm so far behind on updating this. Shame on me. So, a few quick write-ups to catch up:
Book #10: The Three Edwards by Thomas B. Costain. This volume of Costain's Pageant of England covers the Plantagenet kings Edward I, Edward II and Edward III, and their reigns from Edward I's coronation in 1272 through to Edward III's death in 1377. Just over a hundred years of Edwards
Book # 11: 1356 by Bernard Cornwell - After reading Costain's book on the Edwards and the start of the Hundred Years War, thought I'd give Cornwell's fictionalized take on the Black Prince's (aka Edward the Prince of Wales) victory at Poitiers in 1356 a shot. Not bad but a little light on the fictionalized plot side. Cornwell definitely does do a nice battle scene though.
Book #12 : Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill. Nice, creepy ghost story. Definitely some similarities in writing styles between Hill and his father, but Hill does have his own voice and is a more concise writer. I like a good ghost story, and while this was a little predictable, it was also good and creepy.
Book # 13 - The Last Plantagenets 1377-1485 (Book IV of the Pageant of England) by Thomas B. Costain. Did it. Finished all four books of Costain's opus on the Plantagenet monarchs. Really great stuff. This chapter went from Richard II, who was deposed by Henry IV, to Henry V, to Henry VI who was deposed by Edward IV to (sort of) Edward V to the last Plantagenet, Richard III. So this one covered one of my favourite time periods, the Wars of the Roses. He gave really short shrift to Henry IV though (deemed him boring basically, lol) and Henry V (based on there already being a mountain of writing about him), but spends half the book on Richard II. Who I didn't know too much about.
Book #10: The Three Edwards by Thomas B. Costain. This volume of Costain's Pageant of England covers the Plantagenet kings Edward I, Edward II and Edward III, and their reigns from Edward I's coronation in 1272 through to Edward III's death in 1377. Just over a hundred years of Edwards
Book # 11: 1356 by Bernard Cornwell - After reading Costain's book on the Edwards and the start of the Hundred Years War, thought I'd give Cornwell's fictionalized take on the Black Prince's (aka Edward the Prince of Wales) victory at Poitiers in 1356 a shot. Not bad but a little light on the fictionalized plot side. Cornwell definitely does do a nice battle scene though.
Book #12 : Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill. Nice, creepy ghost story. Definitely some similarities in writing styles between Hill and his father, but Hill does have his own voice and is a more concise writer. I like a good ghost story, and while this was a little predictable, it was also good and creepy.
Book # 13 - The Last Plantagenets 1377-1485 (Book IV of the Pageant of England) by Thomas B. Costain. Did it. Finished all four books of Costain's opus on the Plantagenet monarchs. Really great stuff. This chapter went from Richard II, who was deposed by Henry IV, to Henry V, to Henry VI who was deposed by Edward IV to (sort of) Edward V to the last Plantagenet, Richard III. So this one covered one of my favourite time periods, the Wars of the Roses. He gave really short shrift to Henry IV though (deemed him boring basically, lol) and Henry V (based on there already being a mountain of writing about him), but spends half the book on Richard II. Who I didn't know too much about.
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