Susan Hated Literature

She'd much prefer to read a good book

silver dark sea

5 April 2013
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The silver dark sea by

Once, there was a man. He was bearded and kind. He lived on an island in a stone-walled house with a tap that dripped, and a small peat fire. He had no friends to speak of. All his family were gone. –Susan Fletcher - The silver dark sea (The fisherman of Sye) c.2012

Life is different when you live on an island. The sea is all important, whether or not you make you living from it. The sea can be heard everywhere, and to be without it is unthinkable. The sea also brings gifts; washed up wellington books, feathers, shells and the like. But the sea also takes. Four years ago Maggie lost her husband to the sea. The Bundys lost their brother. But now something has happened, the sea has brought a life to the island, a man is washed up on shore, an incident that will alter many lives on the island of Parla.Silver Dark Sea by Susan Fletcher

It took me a while to get into this book. I wasn’t sure about the narration choice. Some is first person, some is third person. It distanced me for a bit. And the fact that dialogue was italicised rather than within quotes marks threw me as well. I’m not sure why some authors feel they need to use that sort of a gimmick when there is no need for it.

I also wasn’t too sure of what was going on in this story. But there is a reason for that ambiguity in this novel. The characters themselves are unsure so why shouldn’t the reader be too.

About of the third of the way through, however, and the book finally gripped me. I started to really enjoy the read. Yes, it is maudlin and sentimental, with its tales of love at first sight and people who “just knew” but those thoughts came when I put the book down. While I was reading I was entertained, although never really enthralled.

I really enjoyed Fletcher’s writing, lyrical I believe is the term used in the blurb.

It is funny, I read this without thought of this year’s Once Upon a Time Challenge, and in many ways it really doesn’t fit the theme, because this is a book about love and loss and redemption rather than a fantasy novel or a fairy tale, yet at its heart is the power of story. The power of the fairy tale. So I’m going to count it as the first of my OUAT reads.

Feel free to leave a link to your review in the comments if you’ve read this one

4 April 2013
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Hello world

Well it has been a while hasn’t it? My last post was way back in December of last year. That’s almost four full months! The main reason for my absence was that I bought a house! Excitement, but also time-consuming and internet-interfering-with. We’ve moved out the country, and being a *whole* ten miles from the “big smoke” internet is not so easy to obtain. But I finally got connected yesterday. With a grand speed of 1mg. So yay! in a way.

Luckily enough I am just in time to sign up for this year’s Once Upon a Time Challenge. I’ve no idea what I’m going to read, so for now I will just commit to The Journey.

By signing up for The Journey you are agreeing to read at least one book within one of the four categories during March 21st to June 21st period. Just one book

In my internet-absent days I also managed to read the rest of the Wheel of Time series. I’m still not quite sure about how I feel about that final book. I hope to write a post about that at some stage. And I got another dog just a few days ago. He is off to the vets tomorrow to get the snip but so far he is settling in very well and the pre-existing dog is only delighted to have a playmate who has as much energy as she does.

The Hobbit An Unexpected Journey poster

16 December 2012
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The hobbit : An unexpected journey [based on the book by] by directed by

I really have no idea where to start this review. I mean, there is no point in recapping the plot is there? Either you’ve read the book, or see LOTR, or heard somewhere else that “In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit” and how he went on adventures with some dwarves looking. I can’t imagine there are too many people out there who can please ignorance to the whole LOTR/Hobbit phenomenon.

And I know that this is not going to try and be some objective review on the filmmaking or story-telling, because that’s not what I do.

So, just my ramblings and observations.

The Hobbit An Unexpected Journey poster

The Hobbit An Unexpected Journey poster

I went in with low expectations. I didn’t think it could be as good as LOTR and didn’t want it to try and be the same sort of film. The books are very different after all, why shouldn’t the films. And although I tried to avoid and ignore all reviews I couldn’t help but hear a few rumblings from the belly of the internet saying that some people weren’t very happy with The Hobbit.

I, however, loved it.

It does have issues, in places I found the cgi not entirely convincing, and in one or two scenes the action seemed speeded up and happening too fast. Storywise I’m not sure it needed “Old Bilbo” and Frodo in it. I think that maybe at the end of the third film would have been sufficient. And I do think it was a trifle long. Although I am willing to be told that was just because I was being especially time conscious on account of having a bus to catch.

But for the most part I thought it fantastic.

I loved young Bilbo and his being uprooted by Gandalf. A younger, an slightly more insecure Gandalf than from the LOTR. He is more irritable too I think, but not in a mean way. And anyone might be irritated by the behaviour of some among the dwarves :)

There are plenty of changes and additions to the story. Some from the appendixes, some not. I liked them and how they worked in the film, however if you are someone who doesn’t like anything changed then you just may have a long list of complaints. I have also heard mention that some people found the film slow, or boring! Quite how they managed to do so I don’t know. I loved the set-up, and the getting to know the characters, and the setting the scene, and the songs. I’m not certain what to make of the idea that there will also be an extended dvd version though. But the more time I get to spend in Middle Earth the better.

I loved the Gollum scenes. They were just great, this is a different Gollum than in LOTR remember. Yes, evil and tricky and murderous. But also somehow more light-hearted and innocent. I guess a trip to the torture chambers will do that.

And Smaug! Oooooh. We didn’t see much of him but what little we did was just brilliant. Cheesy peas

Now, when do I go see it again?

Other reviews : Stainless Steel Droppings; Edrants ; Screen Rant

16 December 2012
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The Dragon Reborn by

Prologue - Pedron Niall's aged gaze wandered about his private audience chamber, but dark eyes hazed with thought saw nothing. –Robert Jordan - The Dragon Reborn - c.1991

Book three of The Wheel of Time
spoiler warning in effect for this and *previous* titles in the series.

At the end of book two Rand proclaimed himself the Dragon Reborn, but he is still in denial, and wants to prove it. One way or the other. So he decides he will force one of the prophecies to come through. If he can do it, well, that’s it isn’t it. And if he dies in the attempt, well, at least he won’t be a false dragon dangling on an Aes Sedai string. So he heads off, all alone.

Leaving a very irate, and most likely worried, Moiraine to follow after him. With her is Lan, obviously, and Perrin. Mat has been taken to Tar Valon for healing. And with him are Elayne, Egwene, and Nyneave who have returned for more training after their adventures away. They expect to be welcomed back but are in for a bit of shock when it turns out that no one is very happy with them at all.

cover image The Dragon Reborn - Robert Jordan

The Dragon Reborn – Robert Jordan

You know, for a book entitles The Dragon Reborn this actually makes very little use of Rand. He is off moaning and whining in denial, but only in the occasional chapter. For most of this book we are with are learning about the others. Rand has had centre stage for the most of the other two books so this is a little different. But it is a good difference. Mat gets his first point of view chapters, and Perrin gets more “on-screen” time too. Nyneave, Egwene, and Elayne are allowed to do there thing. It follows the pattern set in the earlier books of having the characters all off having their own adventures, only to be brought together for the final few chapters.

I think this is one of the shortest WOT books, and one of the best paced of them I think. There is plenty going on, we get a feel for everything without being bogged down in too many details and characters. Adventure, magic, and evilness everywhere.

Other reviews : SFbook reviews ; A dribble of ink ; The Wertzone ; Val’s random comments ; Becky’s book reviews

The great hunt by Robert Jordan

29 November 2012
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The Great Hunt by

Prologue - In the shadow The man who called himself Bors, at least in this place, sneered at the low murmuring that rolled around the vaulted chamber like the soft gabble of geese. –Robert Jordan - The Great Hunt - c. 1990

Book Two of The Wheel of Time/p>

spoiler warning in effect

All our characters are back together at the beginning of this book, in Fal Dara, resting and recuperating after the end of The Eye of the World. There is a lot for them to deal with, more for some than others, but they all have “issues” of their own now. But almost straight away the group is split up. Egwene and Nyneave are off to Tar Valon while the rest head in pursuit of darkfriends and trollocs, and even then Rand and Loial get separated from the others. Apart from Moiraine and Lan, they are off stage for most of this book, as Moiraine is off researching.

The great hunt by Robert Jordan

The great hunt by Robert Jordan

And a lot of the first half of the book is establishing what’s going on. There is a fair amount of characters travelling here and then there and then over yonder. And there is a lot of denial going on. Rand refuses to entertain the possibility that he may be the Dragon Reborn. Perrin doesn’t want to talk to the wolves, and Mat, well, Mat doesn’t have much to do but serve as impetus to get the dagger back. Not til the end of the book.

As for Egwene and Nyneave, well they show us what Tar Valon is like as they head off to learn what it is that an Aes Sedai actually is. And boy are they in for a surprise. But they do meet up with Min again, and with Elayne, and learn that Rand has had a impact on the world already, even if it is only to prompt people to think about changing their lives.

But the second half of this book really kicks off the action. The final third in particular is brilliant. I love the build-up to the battle at the end, it really gets the heart pumping.

And we meet the Seanchan, who are awesome and evil and icky all at the same time, I mean the damane, that’s just horrible.

There is a lot going on in this book. And only on rereading it do you realise just how much foreshadowing and hinting at future events was going on. And the Forsaken begin to come on stage. Just hints and occasional appearances, nothing like in later books, but they are there, plotting and meddling. Lanfear in particular. I always liked her. She was evil, sure, but cool.

And Min gets more to do. Yay! Elayne didn’t bother me in this book either. I seem to recall her being quite irritating, maybe that’s in later books. We’ll see what happens.

Rand, as I mentioned, is still in denial, which is understandable, and yet, he is the main character, to have him so reluctant the whole way through the novel is a little off-putting. That’s the problem when your story goes on for too long; the set-up takes too long. I do like the way he grows into the role of “Lord” though. It is a gradual thing, too gradual perhaps, but well done.

I will say that I hate this cover. It is such a standard fantasy-esque picture, and just plain wrong. That scene never happens in the book. And it sets the tone for the rest of the Darrell K Sweet covers. They suck, they suck so much that they are almost cool :)

Other reviews: Val’s random comments ; It’s all about books ; A dribble of ink ; The Wertzone

21 November 2012
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Savita Halappanavar

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It has been a long time since I’ve written anything on this blog that wasn’t a book or film review. I’ve been mainly sticking to tumblr for my randomness. But, I don’t know, I just wanted to put something up here about the death of Savita Halappanavar, and the whole abortion mess in Ireland.

It may not make a whole lot of sense, but I’m angry even thinking about it. Angry that it happened. That it could happen again. And angry that Ireland is receiving international attention because of this, and I’m angry that that even matters to me.

As a cultural Catholic I grew up thinking that abortion was wrong. I do have memories of my mother telling me to ignore protesters outside the GPO, and saying something to the effect that it wasn’t that black and white. In many ways she was right. It isn’t that simple, but at the same time, it is black and white. Those protesters are totally and utterly in the wrong. The ones who use shock tactics into trying to make you feel that legalising abortion will lead to babies being shot in the street. What on earth is right with that?

No pro-choice campaigner is going to make you have an abortion. There will be no forced abortions. Protesting against abortion just means that those people who are going to have an abortion have to travel. Although with Marie Stopes Clinic opening in Belfast at least one good thing is that some women won’t have to go as far.

So called “pro-life” protesters have been saying an awful lot lately that Ireland is one of the safest countries in the world for pregnant women. That the statistics prove that no abortion leads to greater safety. And not one commentator that I’ve heard has called them on that stat and asked if maybe, just maybe, the fact that Irish women wanting an abortion head to England means that statistic isn’t really valid. It hides the fact that Irish women can, and do, get abortions. Just not here in Ireland.

For years now I’ve been in favour of legalising abortion in Ireland. And the more I see and here from the anti-abortion crowd the more in favour of it I become.

And I am sick of all the political parties here using the death of Savita Halappanavar as a way to score political points. Fianna Fail have no right to give out to anyone for not legislating for abortion. How many years were they in power and could have done something and didn’t? And the shower in power now are no better. Calls for clarity and waiting for reports. That’s all bullshit. This issue has been around for decades. That old saying about the people having spoken? Didn’t they do that in the referendum! That was over twenty years ago.

Even if it turns out that an abortion wouldn’t have saved Savita Halappanavar’s life isn’t going to change my opinion. The next politician who calls to my door looking for a vote had better be pro-choice.

The eye of the world - Robert Jordan

20 November 2012
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The eye of the world by

Prologue - Dragonmount The palace still shook occasionally as the earth rumbled in memory, groaned as if it would deny what had happened. –Robert Jordan - The eye of the world - c.1990

Book one of The Wheel of Time

In a quiet back water village strange things are stirring. It has been a hard winter, harder than any can recall, and spring is long overdue. What news there is from the world at large is dark and troublesome. Wars, winter, and a false Dragon. But the people of the Two Rivers are hardy folk, stubborn some say, they will continue on as they always have. Wars shouldn’t trouble them.

The eye of the world - Robert Jordan

The eye of the world – Robert Jordan

But on Winternight all that is going to change.

It is pretty much impossible for my to give an objective review of The eye of the world. I first read it so many years ago when I was in second year in school, and since then I have reread it innumerable times. I think on my first reading there were another 3 books already published, it may have been only two, but I remember many many trips to Broderick’s book shop in Sligo who had promised that the next book would be in stock next week. Oh sorry, next week. No next week. But once I had caught up with Jordan’s output I had to reread, usually I’d do the whole series when a new book was due. And as the first in the series tEotW got more rereads than the later ones. Plus it was my introduction to Randland and all the goodness therein. So I’m giving it ten stars. If I came to it fresh today I’m not sure I would, but a book is more than just a story, it is every memory it brings with it too.

But if you are thinking of starting to read The Wheel of Time series, now that the final book is due in just a few short months, what should you expect? Well, if you’ve read The Lord of the Rings you will certainly spot many echoes. Some have called it a LotR knock-off, but I don’t agree with that at all, there are similar elements in this book. Three young innocents abroad, venturing into a danger much older and darker than they ever could have thought possible. With magic and evil creatures, Trollocs here in place of orcs, and evil black riders sniffing you out. But they are allusions rather than a copy. In WOT women actually feature quite heavily. As well as the three boys; Rand, Mat, and Perrin, two young women also leave the Two Rivers. And the whole party is led by a woman rather than a man.

In Randland you see it is women and not men who wield the One Power, or magic. The male half(Saidin) was tainted by the Dark One thousands of years ago. Any man who can wield saidin is doomed to go mad and die. Which means that there is a huge imbalance of power, gender-wise, in Randland as a whole. For many, the Aes Sadai, the women who can use saidar are distrusted and regarded as witches. In many countries they are are banned completly. In others they are welcomed. But in most they are tolerated but distrusted.

Many many people dislike the portrayal of women in The Wheel of Time series. I’m not going to comment on that yet, because I’m only talking about tEotW today, and I think that both men and women are treated quite fairly in this book. Yes, the main character is a male and so we get his opinion on most things and sometimes he does dismiss half the population with a “women!” but that is a character response, not necessarily the author’s opinion. And both men and women here act like people. Some good, some bad.

I could write loads more on WOT but I think this is enough for the moment. If you’ve enjoyed epic fantasy before and like to read long books then give this one a try. If you don’t like it you don’t have to read any further, if you do, well, you’ve loads more books to come!

Other reviews: Neth space ; Age 30+ ; Mom thinks I’m sleeping ; The Wert Zone ; A dribble of ink (spoilers)

Apex Magazine Issue 41

11 November 2012
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Weaving Dreams by

Eva tossed her backpack on the picnic bench and hollered to Giancarlo. “I’m heading to the creek to cut some willow branches for the summoning spell.” –Mary Robinette Kowal - Weaving Dreams - c.2012

Short story published in Apex Magazine Issue 41

Eva is a witch, and a researcher into the Fae. As Weaving dreams begins she is helping Giancarlo with his research. He is an historian, interested in meeting a Fae as a primary source. They are long lived, afterall, some are still living from colonial days.

Apex Magazine Issue 41

Apex Magazine #41

This isn’t their first summoning in this area. But on this occasion things do no got to plan.

I’ve seen plenty of mentions of Kowal before, I have her Shades of Milk and Honey but haven’t read it yet. It sounds great though, and if it is anything like this story I’d guess it’ll make for a fascinating read.

Weaving Dreams could be called an urban fantasy even though it isn’t set in an urban area, but it mixes the modern real world with a fantasy one. A modern fairy tale I guess is a more accurate description. In this ‘verse the Fae are real. Magic and spells are real. But the fae are not human and their motivations are not always easy to understand or explain. The fae of the Americas didn’t have as much of a conflict with the European fae that came over during colonial times as their human counterparts did. In many cases they intermarried, and a blending of cultures is occurring, but there are still differences between them.

This is, in essence, the classic fairy tale. A human gets taken into Faerie and must be rescued. The fae are powerful and magic, but they are bound by bargains and competitions. Freedom can be won, if you can figure out how to do it.

If you like fairy tales give this one a try, it is a nice variation on the classic story.

Anno Dracula by Kim Newman

6 November 2012
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Anno Dracula by

Last night's delivery was easier than the others. Much easier than last week's. Perhaps, with practice and patience, everything becomes easier. If never easy. Never ... easy. –Kim Newman - Anno Dracula - c.1992, 2011

The last of my RIP reads, and my All Hallows Swap book.

Anno Dracula by Kim Newman

Anno Dracula by Kim Newman

What if Van Helsing had lost? What if Dracula had won that battle, married Queen Victoria, and taken power? What would Victorian England make of vampires coming out of the shadows, into high society, and becoming fashionable as well as powerful?

Anno Dracula does just feature the cast of Bram Stoker’s Dracula though, there are numerous real historical figures walking about its pages, from Oscar Wilde to Jack the Ripper. And innumerable fictional characters too. So if you enjoy a good vampire story, mixed in with a detective story, mixed in with some historical fiction, with a huge ensemble of spot-the-famous-name characters then I think that Anno Dracula might just be the book for you.

Ana from Things Mean a Lot sent my this book as part of the wonderful All Hallows Read Swap. I was reading it over Hallowe’en, but didn’t quite get it finished on time. And then my internet connection went again so this is the earliest I could post my review & go check out what everyone else read. On the bright side, it did mean that my RIP experience went on for a little longer than I had expected :).

I’m so glad that Ana sent me this book, I doubt I would ever have picked it by myself. I’ve read some of Newman’s columns in Empire & SFX, but never been a huge fan. And just reading the blurb this does sound a bit like, “hey lets play spot the person you’ve heard of”, which it sort of is, but in a good way, not just a through as many names as possible on the page and see what happens.

The central storyline, Jack the Ripper and the quest to catch him is tied in to vampires and their impact on Victorian society. And ties back to Dracula quite neatly. That isn’t a spoiler, btw, because the reader learns very early who Jack is, we just have to wait for our heroes to catch up.

It is a gripping story, very easy to read and just keep on reading. A page-turner that means I will have to get my hands on the rest of the series, because while one aspect of the story does come to an end, there is much much more I want to know.

Other reviews: Founding Fields ; Little Red Reviewer ; Speculative Book reviews
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The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

27 October 2012
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The Raven Boys by

Blue Sargent had forgotten how many times she'd been told that she would kill her true love. –Maggie Stiefvater - The Raven Boys - c.2012

Blue is the daughter of a psychic. A non-psychic in a family of those with the gift. But she does make things “stronger” or clearer. So she will often accompany them on their readings. Every year on St. Mark’s Day she goes with her mother to see the shades of the coming year’s dead. This year, however, Neeve, her aunt is the one making note of the spirits, not Blue’s mother. And this year Blue sees on of them.

This can only mean one of two things; the soon-to-be dead is her true love, or she will kill him.

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

I loved Stiefvater’s The Scorpio Races when I read it earlier this year. So I was hoping for more of the same from this book. Unfortunately I was disappointed.

It isn’t a bad book. In fact there is plenty to like Blue is a good character, she felt grounded and real. And all the boys had their own voice and character too. The writing is lovely and atmospheric as well. But something about it just didn’t grab me. It all feels like set-up to something else to come. And it is book one in a series, so I suppose a lot of this is set-up.

And I will read the rest of the series, so I guess it is a success in that regard, but if I’d recommend The Scorpio Races much more than this one.

Other reviews: I just wanna sit here and read ; The Eclectic Reader ; Bookalicious Babe Book Reviews