Susan Hated Literature

Feels like its been ages since I wrote anything for this thingymeblog.

And this isn’t much of an entry either, just a quick note to say that I’m off home tomorrow, not sure when I’ll be online after Christmas, d’internet is far to slow in Sligo to make it likely that I’ll be posting from there. So while I’m gone have a Merry Christmas and a happy new year and all that sorta stuff.

I’ve been out doing the last of the present buying this morning. Back by two which great as it meant I missed the huge ginormous crowds. Course then B#5 rang to say that he couldn’t pick up the present we were getting for the gasur, so I had to head back into town and pick it up.

And then remembering that I had no wrapping paper I grabbed some in Penney’s^[1] but I was in a rush and and didn’t look to closely. And guess what… yeah, I bought Birthday wrapping paper instead of xmas stuff. Don’t think I’ll bother to get proper christmas stuff though, just couldn’t be arsed and sure it all goes in the bin by the end of the day anyways.

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Author: Georgette Heyer
ISBN: 0099468042
823.912
See also: Library Thing ; Wikipedia entry

“Do not, I beg of you, my lord, say more!” uttered Miss Milbourse, in imploring accents, slightly averting her lovely countenance, and clasping both hands at her bosom.

This may be my favourite Heyer so far. It has all the usual ingredients, romance, melodrama, along with a great deal of humour. Most of her books do have some, but this had me laughing more than any other. Plus the characters were great. Hero, or Kitten really isn’t much of a hero at all but she is so good-humoured that no matter the scrapes she ends up in you can’t help but like her. And Sherry is just as bad. And as entertaining and likeable.

The collection of friends are great fun too.

And as usual the book is a page-turner, you won’t want to stop once you’ve started reading it.

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Herself says

1. Hardball ::
2. Sleepless ::
3. Graduation ::
4. Presents ::
5. Toe ::
6. Lotion ::
7. Snicker ::
8. Eve ::
9. Investment ::
10. Pain ::

agus deir mé

Continue Reading »

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Book 3 in the Temeraire
Author: Naomi Novik
ISBN: 0345481305
DDC: 813.6
See also: LibraryThing ; Wikipedia entry ; aarti chapati

The hot wind blowing into Macao was sluggish and unrefreshing, only stirring up the rotting salt smell of the harbor, the fish-corpses and great knots of black-red seaweed, the effluvia of human and dragon wastes.

I can’t say very much about the plot of this book without giving away plot details from Book 2. I enjoyed this more than the second, maybe because I read it straight after and so was more in the mindset of the books, or maybe because I liked the story better, or maybe simply because it is a better book. Whatever the reason, if you liked the previous two books in this series you’ll want to read on.

We get yet more adventures from Temerarie and William, but we also get to see more of the world that Novik has created. Plus feral dragons and Temeraire’s desire to get home and help free British dragons from their almost-slavery.

I think my favourite character of this book is the new dragon Iskierka, although she isn’t a major character Show Spoilers ▼

she is pretty forceful. If the series continues in this manner, light adventure, then I’ll continue to read along.

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Book 2 in the Temeraire series
Author: Naomi Novik
ISBN: 0345481291
DDC: 813.6
See also: LibraryThing ; Naomi Novik’s LJ ; Sandstorm Reviews

The day was unseasonably warm for November, but in some misguided deference to the Chinese embassy, the fire in the Admiralty boardroom has been heaped excessively high, and Laurence was standing directly before it.

In the first book of this series Novik introduced the slightly alternate Napoleonic world she had created; one with dragons used as instruments of war. In this book the action moves to China. Temeraire is a Chinese dragon, not only that, but a Celestial, the breed of dragon reserved for the Imperial family, and the Chinese are not too happy that William Laurence is his captain. And from a diplomatic point of view the English government want to keep China happy, even that means sending Temeraire off to China. And because a dragon won’t easily be parted from his captain, that means that Laurence must go too.

I didn’t really enjoy this book as much as the first one, they spent far too long at sea on the transport, and although some of it was entertaining, I felt that it wasn’t as engaging as the first book. Nevertheless it is still very enjoyable and well worth the read.

Novik does a good job in expanding her ‘verse, the Chinese have a very different outlook on dragons, and this begins to impact on the relationship between Laurence and Temeraire, with Laurence wondering if perhaps the dragon would be better off staying in China.

I may not have liked it as much as the first, but I’d still recommend it.

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Author: Stephenie Meyer
ISBN: 1904233805
DDC: 813.6
See also: LibraryThing ; Official Site

My mother drove me to the airport with the windows rolled down. It was seventy-five degrees in Phoenix, the sky a perfect, cloudless blue. I was wearing my favorite shirt -sleeveless, white eyelet lace; I was wearing it as a farewell gesture. My carry-on item was a Parka.

I picked this up in Chapters because the title and author sounded vaguely familiar, I wasn’t sure from where, and I don’t like that cover, but it was only €4, so I figured what the hell. Turned out I’d seen it mentioned over at Heather’s and I think that Andi enjoyed it too.

The American cover is a lot nicer, but the novel itself is the thing that is important, right?

At first I was a bit meh, the opening preface and the blurb at the back had me thinking this was your predictable teen vampire book. But once I got reading it I just couldn’t stop. Sure, it is a little predictable, and if you are a plot fan then you may not get a lot out of this book. Me, I like characters, and this has an excellent first person narrator in Isabella Swan, or Bella as she prefers to be called.

It isn’t a deep and serious literary work, but it is exactly what it sets out to be, a highly enjoyable and readable vampire romance. It is a real page turner, and I know I’ll want to read the sequel.

The basic plot revolves around Bella. She has left her home in Phoenix to live with the father in the sleepy, cloudy town of Forks, Washington State. Her mother has a new love interest and Bella wants her to have the space to be happy, so she has sacrificed her love of the sun for the rain of her father’s place. Once in Forks she finds herself the centre of attention, not always wanted, mainly for being the new girl. But she also begins to notice the Cullens, a family of outsiders that no one seems to talk to. And one of them in particular gets her attention.

Go on and read it if you have the chance, it is a lovely read.

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This whole going out thing during the week, fun isn’t it?

The work Christmas party was last night; official part was fairly crap. Rubbish food and stuffy gentleman’s club environment. But the unofficial pub bit was quite fun. Of course there was a certain amount of alcoholic beverage utilised, but that is only to be expected, and I’m sure there are a few bad heads about this morning^[1] I’m grand, vodka doesn’t really give my hangovers. But I am tired. When I got home last night, and was having the compulsory drink as many pints of water as quick as possible part of the evening I flicked on the telly and caught a bit of Donnie Darko and can I just say it doesn’t make a lot of sense when it sways in front of you.

Any road, can I just say that Dundalk football shouldn’t really be that important to anyone, threatening to set yourself on fire, not such a good plan.

If, however, you have three foot long arms then why aren’t you out saving the dolphins? answer me that.

And while I’m posting random clicky-linky things, pop over to On The Ditch and vote for who you think should win RTE’s sports person of the year. RTE aren’t opening it to the general vote, but a panel of experts will chose the winner this weekend.

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