Dystopia and the post-apocalypse
We're roadtripping through Zion National Park today, and won't be back to California until the weekend, so this is just a quick post to let you know we're still alive. It's a great region of the...
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Too many good books
We're at another reunion this week, so here's another short post. But just to give you a peek behind the curtains, I'm currently making my way through 1. Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell (I started it...
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Book Review: Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell (2004), Susanna Clarke. Paperback, 782 pages. Awards: Hugo Award, World Fantasy Award for Best Novel, Locus Award for Best First Novel, The Mythopoeic Award for Adult...
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Ever wanted to take a *FREE* class in sci-fi/fantasy literature ?
My sister is awesome, and pointed me to this online class through coursera that is:1. Free2. Conducted by a seriously talented professor at the University of Michigan3. Totally awesomeThe course is 10...
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My new gig
So, I've recently been taken on as a contributor to the Insatiable Booksluts, a forum for all indie and literary booky things. And classics reviews. And literary playlists. And angry rants about...
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Book Review: 2312
2312 (2012), Kim Stanley Robinson. Hardcover, 576 pages.Summary: In the year 2312, humanity's diaspora into the far reaches of the solar system culminates in a period of turmoil and change in which...
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The Hugo Endurance Project
I'm in-between reviews right now, so I thought I'd take a moment and just give a shout-out to a blog I just found, The Hugo Endurance Project. While the Hugo Award does not only highlight literary...
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Stephen King Week
Just wanted to spread the word about Stephen King week over at the insatiable booksluts. A lot of good essays about his work, maybe even one of my own if I can finish it on time. Six days ago, I'd...
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Is Stephen King a modern Nostradamus?
What!? Posting more than once in a week? Did I just travel though a worm hole and find a secret stash of time at the end of the wormhole rainbow?Anyway, this is just to let you know that I've just...
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New to Stephen King? Here's where to start
I was on solo-parenting duty for a lot of the past week, so my detailed review of Carrie is going to have to wait until next week. In the meantime, here's an infographic that Susie over at the...
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On Comfort Objects
As a kid, my comfort objects were a herd of mismatched stuffed animals, threadbare and gnawed on from years of love. The stuffed animals are gone now, but I still have comfort objects. They're books....
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Book Review: Carrie
Carrie (1974), Stephen King. Paperback, 208 pages.Summary: A bullied teen discovers an outlet for her anger after harnessing telekinetic powers. It does not end well. For a more detailed summary, click...
View ArticleBest books to curl up with in front of a fire
On October 1st, it hit 103 degrees where we live in California. Ridiculous, I know.But things have gotten a little more reasonable since then. Today, the high is only supposed to reach 70 degrees,...
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Shaking out the filler
I'm halfway through China Mieville's Perdido Street Station, and while it's not the worst offender I've ever encountered, I find myself just wishing things would go a little quicker, and not spend a...
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Mountains of Madness
Just a quick post to point you to my comic over at the insatiable booksluts! It involves book stacking, which is like the literary version of Jenga.And a teaser question, before you go: how tall is...
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A Halloween post, excerpted from my dad blog
Someday I'm gonna write sff for a living. For now I'm mostly living it with my two-year-old. Here's a Halloween post to tide you over until I review Perdido Street Station tomorrow.Light seeps in...
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Book Review: Perdido Street Station
Perdido Street Station (2003), China Mieville. Paperback, 640 pages.Awards: Nominated for the World Fantasy Award, the Locus Award, the British Science Fiction Award, and the Hugo and Nebula Awards for...
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In which I start thinking about YA books . . .
For the next few weeks I'm going to be putting down some of my thoughts about children's and young adult literature. If I had more time, these thoughts would be crafted and researched like an essay; I...
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Reader poll: How do you define "YA"?
I mentioned a few weeks back that I'm spending some time thinking about literature for young people. At first I called it "YA" literature, but I'll be honest that I don't really have a solid handle on...
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Book Review: The Hobbit
The Hobbit (1937), J. R. R. Tolkien. Paperback, 320 pages.Summary: An unassuming hobbit finds himself swept up in a fantastic adventure that tests his loyalty, courage, and ingenuity. This is the one...
View ArticleWhat is the best literary award for literature for young people?
First, head over to the booksluts to see my comic and post for the month of December.Second, I forgot to include it in my review of The Hobbit last week, but it was nominated for the Carnegie Medal,...
View ArticleEcho...echo...echo...echo
It's been a nice break. But I've been thinking more and more about getting a few reviews out of my system.This is the back-log of books I have sitting on my desk to review right now, full of dog-ears...
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Book Review: Divergent (Book one in a trilogy)
Divergent (2011), Veronica Roth. Hardcover, 487 pages.Brief Summary: A girl struggles to find her place in a brutal dystopian society that separates citizens into personality groups with little...
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Book Review: Hyperion
Hyperion (1989), Dan Simmons. Paperback, 482 pages.Awards: Hugo Award winner (1990), Locus Award winner (1990), British Science Fiction Award nominee (1990), Arthur C. Clarke Award nominee...
View Article10 books that shaped me. Times 3
The "10 books that shaped you" thing was floating around the internet a few months ago, and since I bothered to make a list then, I figured I'd record it here for posterity. In a post about my...
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