Since this is my two and a half month vacation from library school, I've been reading fairly intensively to make up for not being able to do it when fall semester starts.
1)Dragon America by Mike Resnick (alternate history/fantasy) 258 pages. Source: Library Started: 5/31 Finished: 6/1
Why Read: I saw this on Amazon as a book that was similar to the American revolutionary witches trilogy that I sampled. There are dragons in America in this universe and George Washington wants to use them in the revolution. I thought that sounded interesting. I miss Snap.
Comments: Until now the only Resnick I've read has been the Kirinyaga stories which are thought provoking but depressing. This novel was a fun read. There are dragons, Daniel Boone, American Indians, George Washington and the American Revolution. It's an entertaining mix. I'd be glad to read more in this continuity, but I don't think there is more. Rating B
2)The Pearl Diver by Sujata Massey (mystery) 335 pages. Source: PBS Started: 6/1 Finished: 6/2
Why Read: I read The Samurai's Daughter and wanted to know what happened to Rei after that since her life had gone through a momentous change. Also, the title drew me. I'm interested in pearl divers. I read a book about a Japanese pearl diver a while back.
Comments: It's not really about pearl diving. There is a situation involving the Vietnam War which I thought was portrayed honestly. Rei took some impressively courageous risks which I admired, but from my perspective this wasn't as good as The Samurai's Daughter. Rating B+
3)Salvation in Death by J.D. Robb (futuristic mystery) 353 pages. Source: Library Started: 6/2 Finished: 6/5
Why Read: A case involving the death of a priest is potentially interesting to me. Nora tends to handle religion well.
Comments: She did this time too. She dealt with priests, Catholics and the disturbed consciences of the MCs. Roarke is more defined in my mind than he was before. Nora uses a cliche event in mysteries involving the Catholic Church as an opportunity for characterization. Bravo! Rating B
4)Hybrids by Robert J. Sawyer (alternate history) 396 pages. Source: Library Started: 6/5 Finished: 6/6
Why Read: After reading by this author, I decided that Sawyer's Neanderthal trilogy would be more my cup of tea. It's an alternate earth in which Neanderthals are the dominant species though the middle volume isn't available. The third volume came in first. So I'm reading it now.
Comments: I had a religion oriented problem with this book. It's not the central theme in the book, but it loomed large for me. I don't care for the author's perspective on religion mainly because he makes no allowance for others. I did like other aspects of the book a great deal, however, so I'm rating it A-
5)Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford (historical fiction) 270 pages. Source: Library Started: 6/6 Finished: 6/7
Why Read: This had a chapter serialized in an e-mail book club. It looked fascinating so I put it on hold. It's about a romantic friendship between a Chinese American boy and a Japanese American girl during World War II. BTW, the author is Chinese American. An ancestor of his changed the family's name from Chung to Ford on arriving in the US.
Comments: There were what I consider to be minor anachronisms that I think were blown out of proportion in reviews. The reviews also complained about excessive sentimentality. I read romances, so I know excessive sentimentality when I see it. This doesn't even begin to qualify in the sentimentality sweepstakes from a romance reader's perspective. There's far too much realism and compromise. Another complaint is that Henry and Keiko were too young to have feelings for each other. That's the perspective of those readers based on their experience. My experience is that I had my first crush when I was their age. So I could relate. I also really loved Henry's relationship with the jazz musician. Rating A
1)Dragon America by Mike Resnick (alternate history/fantasy) 258 pages. Source: Library Started: 5/31 Finished: 6/1
Why Read: I saw this on Amazon as a book that was similar to the American revolutionary witches trilogy that I sampled. There are dragons in America in this universe and George Washington wants to use them in the revolution. I thought that sounded interesting. I miss Snap.
Comments: Until now the only Resnick I've read has been the Kirinyaga stories which are thought provoking but depressing. This novel was a fun read. There are dragons, Daniel Boone, American Indians, George Washington and the American Revolution. It's an entertaining mix. I'd be glad to read more in this continuity, but I don't think there is more. Rating B
2)The Pearl Diver by Sujata Massey (mystery) 335 pages. Source: PBS Started: 6/1 Finished: 6/2
Why Read: I read The Samurai's Daughter and wanted to know what happened to Rei after that since her life had gone through a momentous change. Also, the title drew me. I'm interested in pearl divers. I read a book about a Japanese pearl diver a while back.
Comments: It's not really about pearl diving. There is a situation involving the Vietnam War which I thought was portrayed honestly. Rei took some impressively courageous risks which I admired, but from my perspective this wasn't as good as The Samurai's Daughter. Rating B+
3)Salvation in Death by J.D. Robb (futuristic mystery) 353 pages. Source: Library Started: 6/2 Finished: 6/5
Why Read: A case involving the death of a priest is potentially interesting to me. Nora tends to handle religion well.
Comments: She did this time too. She dealt with priests, Catholics and the disturbed consciences of the MCs. Roarke is more defined in my mind than he was before. Nora uses a cliche event in mysteries involving the Catholic Church as an opportunity for characterization. Bravo! Rating B
4)Hybrids by Robert J. Sawyer (alternate history) 396 pages. Source: Library Started: 6/5 Finished: 6/6
Why Read: After reading by this author, I decided that Sawyer's Neanderthal trilogy would be more my cup of tea. It's an alternate earth in which Neanderthals are the dominant species though the middle volume isn't available. The third volume came in first. So I'm reading it now.
Comments: I had a religion oriented problem with this book. It's not the central theme in the book, but it loomed large for me. I don't care for the author's perspective on religion mainly because he makes no allowance for others. I did like other aspects of the book a great deal, however, so I'm rating it A-
5)Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford (historical fiction) 270 pages. Source: Library Started: 6/6 Finished: 6/7
Why Read: This had a chapter serialized in an e-mail book club. It looked fascinating so I put it on hold. It's about a romantic friendship between a Chinese American boy and a Japanese American girl during World War II. BTW, the author is Chinese American. An ancestor of his changed the family's name from Chung to Ford on arriving in the US.
Comments: There were what I consider to be minor anachronisms that I think were blown out of proportion in reviews. The reviews also complained about excessive sentimentality. I read romances, so I know excessive sentimentality when I see it. This doesn't even begin to qualify in the sentimentality sweepstakes from a romance reader's perspective. There's far too much realism and compromise. Another complaint is that Henry and Keiko were too young to have feelings for each other. That's the perspective of those readers based on their experience. My experience is that I had my first crush when I was their age. So I could relate. I also really loved Henry's relationship with the jazz musician. Rating A
To Be Continued...