Reading Update #44

[desertvixen]

 I will probably do one more this year, but not sure I'll be doing book updates while deployed.

Bill of Wrongs by the late lamented Molly Ivins and Lou Dubose was excellent.  It was everything you expect from Molly.  Definitely recommend. 

Vanished Arizona  by Martha Summerhayes is a good book.  It's written by an Army wife from New England who gets posted in AZ in the Indian Wars days.  It is an excellent book, but quite depressing, as her early Army experiences were quite bad. 

I Married a Soldier by Lydia Spencer Lane is much more upbeat, similar to Katherine Gibson's With Custer's Cavalry. 

Cotillion by Georgette Heyer, I LOVED.  However, this shouldn't surprise any of my fellow Bujold fans, who know I am a huge fan of Ivan.  Freddy is one of his spiritual ancestors.  Kitty was quite entertaining as well.  It was a good romp, although I did call the end fairly close.  If you haven't read it, and you like the Regency at all, you should.

 And now I want another Vorkosigan book with Ivan and capital intrigue.  Byerly can be in it too.

 Moscow 1812 by Adam Zamoyski took me quite awhile to read.  It is definitely a heavy read, with a good emphasis on the military tactics, without neglecting the political and diplomatic.  It's also a reminder that war has a way of bringing out both the best and worst of the human race, sometimes within the same five minutes.  I'd rec it if you're interested in the subject or time period.

Thanksgiving 101 by Rick Rodgers was pretty good, although I didn't use any of it this year, and won't be using next year either.  Emphasis on planning and cooking. 

Creation in Death by JD Robb has already been reviewed in a separate post.  If you like the series, it was good, but it's not a good jumping in point.  The "Eternity in Death" novella presented in Dead of Night was also quite good.  I liked the ghost story one better, though.

Richard and John, Kings at War by Frank McLynn was a decent book, but not very readable, IMO.  It has taken me quite some time to read.  The writing could be tighter - there is definitely a problem with the author using ten-cent words when they aren't needed, and the style just sort of drags.  I couldn't really put my finger on it, but it was sort of a challenge to read.  However, if you like the subject, it's pretty good.  Much partiality to Richard on the author's part, but that's pretty easy to understand.

 I also read a bunch of Regencies and YA stuff, but nothing really stands out.

 DV

Comments

[betray802.livejournal.com]

<< The "Eternity in Death" novella presented in Dead of Night was also quite good. I liked the ghost story one better, though. >>

I'm undecided. I did like her requisite shot at Summerset, tho, the "That's what I expect a vampire to look like. Pale, bony, dour and dead." line. If they ever made any sort of a movie -- made-for-TV or theatrical -- out of the 'In Death' series, I keep trying to think of an actor for Summerset. So far, no pops.

'Creation' may have to wait and see what kind of gift card I get for Christmas, unless I just go the DVD season set route. I'm a few 'In Deaths' behind, anyway.

Music of the Moment: Somebody's Gonna Love Her by John Schneider

Music of the Moment:

[desert-vixen.livejournal.com]

I liked the Ghost story one better because the ghost was real. Despite Eve not wanting to admit it.

I wouldn't say Creation is the best of the later ones, but it's pretty good.

Where have you left off?

DV

[betray802.livejournal.com]

Actually, the only ones I have are 'Origin In Death' (Icove cloning case) and 'Memory In Death' (Dallas's b*tch of a foster 'mother' case). I'm coming into it somewhere in the middle, I know. Then the Ghost and Vampire shorts.

I'm leaning towards DVD season sets if I get a Border gift card. I've only got Season One each of Airwolf and Beauty and the Beast. Season 3 of BatB comes out right before my birthday next March, though.

Music of the Moment: Worth The Wait by John Schneider

[pstratt.livejournal.com]

I keep finding books that scream, "DV!"

The Far Traveler: Voyages of a Viking Woman. HC and PB. Link to HC: http://www.amazon.com/Far-Traveler-Voyages-Viking-Woman/dp/015101440X/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1196060525&sr=8-1

Seattle Times book review: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/books/2004028323_fartraveler25.html

While most medieval women didn't stray far from home, the Viking Gudrid (985–1050) probably crossed the North Atlantic eight times, according to Brown. Rather than just a passenger, Gudrid may have been the explorer on North American expeditions with two different husbands (one was the brother of Leif Ericson, who discovered America 500 years before Columbus). Brown (A Good Horse Has No Color) catches glimpses of Gudrid in the medieval Icelandic sagas which recount that her father, a chieftain with money problems, refused to wed Gudrid to a rich but slave-born merchant; instead he swapped their farm for a ship and a new life in Greenland. Specifics about her life are sparse, so Brown, following in Gudrid's footsteps, explores the archeology of her era, including the splendid burial ships of Viking queens; the remains of Gudrid's longhouse in a northern Icelandic hayfield; the economy of the farms where she lived; and the technology of her time, including shipbuilding, spinning wool and dairying. But the plucky and adaptable Gudrid remains mysterious, so this impressively researched account will interest serious students of Icelandic archeology, literature and women's history more than the general reader. Map.

Paul

[desert-vixen.livejournal.com]

The Vixen Diaries thing doesn't look like my speed, but this does look interesting. Thanks!

DV